DBA’s grassroots advocacy shined today

From Amy Penterman, DBA president

Today, our state’s leaders got a strong reminder about the importance of Wisconsin’s dairy community and the commitment of people like you who make us America’s Dairyland. 

During DBA’s annual Dairy Day at the Capitol, which was held by video conference this year, we brought more than 50 members and staff together to hear from key decision-makers and to visit with lawmakers and their staffs about our priorities.

A mix of farmers and corporate representatives heard from Randy Romanski, the secretary-designee of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection; Missy Hughes, secretary and CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation; lawmakers from the budget-writing committee; former Gov. Tommy Thompson, who is now acting president of the University of Wisconsin System; and U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin. Click here to watch those presentations.

We also split up into teams and had video chats with 32 lawmakers or their staffs to explain the real-world needs of today’s dairy farmers and related businesses. Our priorities ranged from support for farmers’ clean water efforts and boosting dairy research to improving the CAFO program and stopping misleading labeling on imitation dairy products. Click here for more about DBA’s top policy and budget priorities. 

These types of grassroots lobbying efforts — with members taking center stage — go the furthest in opening the eyes and ears of lawmakers as they make decisions that affect day-to-day life in the dairy community. This is an especially important time to get in front of state leaders as they work to create the 2021-23 budget. 

I sincerely thank those members who participated today. (Please fill out this brief survey.) And, I encourage others to get more involved in our policy work. Dairy Day at the Capitol is just one way to do so. Reach out to Chad Zuleger, DBA’s associate director of government affairs, to learn more. In the meantime, text DAIRY to 50457 for an easy way to comment on issues as they come up. Your voice is critical to moving dairy forward. 

I am so proud of what DBA — all of us — accomplished today. It cuts to the heart of the association’s value to the dairy community. 

Thank you.