Not only do farmers care for their crops and animals, they are also responsible stewards of the environment. Farmers are utilizing innovative technologies and new practices that allow them to be environmentally conscious and reduce their carbon footprint. Click on the photos below to meet farmers across Wisconsin who embody what it means to be Leaders of the Land®.
You can learn even more about what farmers are doing to protect our planet in our Environmental Stewardship section. Still curious? Visit our Ask a Farmer section to submit your questions!
Nate Calkins
Aquaponics is a sustainable agricultural system that combines aquaculture (raising fish) and hydroponics (growing plants in water without soil) in a symbiotic environment.
The Knoebel Family
Helenville, Wis.Jelli’s Market stands as a beacon of trust and tradition. Since 2001, the Knoebel family has been dedicated to growing fresh, local and healthy food, a commitment that now spans generations.
Morgan Lobdell
Morgan approaches sustainability by thinking of their end goal, which is stewarding future agriculturists. It is important to Morgan and Casey to invest in the future generation and give them opportunities to learn and grow in agriculture.
Alsum Farms & Produce
At Alsum Farms, sustainability means leaving the land better than how they found it. The team focuses on water, energy and soil conservation in their farming techniques.
Dominick and Erica Gentry
In America’s Dairyland a dairy farm is not an uncommon sight, and the Gentry’s are taking an organic approach to one of Wisconsin’s oldest traditions.
Austin Arndt
The Arndt family has been farming in Rock County for over 100 years. The Arndts are proud to raise high quality sustainable beef from family farms along with corn, soybeans alfalfa and peppermint.
Krista Peterson and Kara Kasten-Olson
Krista and Kara started their tree farming journey in 2020. The sisters learned the value of hard work and community growing up on their family’s dairy farm near Richfield.
Toni and Terry Sorenson
The Sorensons farm about 100 acres of cherry trees. Cherry trees give habitat and protection for various species of birds and mammals. Terry estimates they have 18,000 trees in their orchard.
Blake and Jessica Pozarski
Blake Pozarski owns and operates Pozarski Family Farms along with his wife, Jessica, and two kids, Wyatt and Finley. The family collects sap for maple syrup production in addition to raising crops and selling seed for food plots and other hunting supplies.
Becca and Joey Hilby
The family raises corn, soybeans and hay along with cattle, pigs, chicken and goats at Hilby Family Farm. The newest venture of Hilby Family Farm is farm-to-table candle making with beef tallow.
Pete Badtke
At Badtke Family Farm, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a way of life. For Pete Badtke, sustainability means nurturing the land to create healthy soil through cover crops and conserving water resources.
Sawyer and Jillian Tietz
Comstock, Wis.In planning for a sustainable future, the Tietzes have capitalized on bringing global ideas to a level that works on their family farm where they milk 140 cows with Jillian’s parents, Neil and Janice Jensen, near Comstock.