A letter on the Farm and Industry short course program

To: Members of the Assembly Committee on Agriculture and, Senate Committee on Agriculture and Tourism

From: Amy Penterman, President, Dairy Business Association

RE: Joint Informational Hearing - University of Wisconsin, Farm & Industry Short Course

Dear Assembly and Senate Agriculture Committee Members,

Thank you for holding a Joint Informational Hearing and, for the opportunity to submit comments relating to changes to the UW CALS Farm & Industry Short Course.

My name is Amy Penterman, I am a Dairy Farmer from Thorp, Wisconsin. My husband and I own and operate an 850-cow dairy farm in Clark County. I am also a crop insurance agent and work out of a home office. I currently serve as President of the Dairy Business Association.

I was recently disappointed to learn of the UW CALS decision to make big changes to the Short Course; changes that may alter the nature of, and purpose for, the Course itself. The Short Course has deep roots and generational ties to the agriculture and farming communities. Then, I learned that this decision was made with little or no input from, or discussion with, the very farming community the Course was designed to be a benefit to. If there are concerns about the Course as it currently exists why wouldn’t the University seek feedback from the ag community and consider farmers’ input?

I’d like to share my personal experience with the Short Course. Mine is a story you could hear on any number of farms around the state. It’s not new and it’s not original. My oldest son attended the Short Course in 2018-2019. As a senior in high school, he knew he would be working in production ag as soon as he graduated. After doing some research and talking with dairy professionals he decided Short Course would be a perfect fit. He knew he would gain a hands-on education in the business of farming. Short Course offers a university setting at a school that is highly regarded for providing a world class education. Not only did my son get a valuable education, but he received college credit and was able to network and meet other ag students, future farmers and dairy professionals from across the state.

My son’s time in Madison not only taught him about animal agriculture, but it also gave him access to living in an urban setting and a chance to meet a diverse student body. This was very important for my son and is, I think, for all young adults as they figure out where their place is in this world. An open-minded person with diverse life experience is an asset to any organization.

Throughout my son’s experience, I was impressed with the number of scholarships available to the students through the Short Course. There are many giving individuals in our state that believe in the program and want to see the students succeed. My family was humbled to learn of the financial benefits provided at the start of school. We are also appreciative of those that continue to give so generously.

I see fewer and fewer farms across our landscape and that makes it even more critical for students, particularly rural students, to have access to an agriculture education; an education that is accredited. The Short Course currently provides a unique opportunity for ag-minded students that should be celebrated, not shuttered. The Short Course currently delivers a top-notch educational curriculum, with accreditation. It also provides an one-of-a-kind setting for students who might not otherwise ever have a chance to attend a Big Ten campus school. And, while a two or four-year degree may not be the right choice – right now, the credits earned through the Short Course can be a powerful incentive down the road should the student later decide to seek either degree.

The four transferable credits earned for course completion are undoubtably an incentive to attend Short Course – offering something tangible, like a head start on future learning at the UW, Extension or any of the tech colleges throughout our state. This incentive often can be a deciding factor in a student’s decision to attend. As a dairy farmer, I value the education students receive at the Short Course and would make hiring decisions with that experience in mind. We need improved access and awareness of the Short Course accreditation and on campus experience and advantages.

Wisconsin is a world leader in dairy and agriculture production. The newly founded Dairy Innovation Hub resides on the three ag campuses in Wisconsin at River Falls, Platteville and the University flagship, Madison. The University leads in research & development, animal health, human nutrition, soil and water sustainability, and farm business. Wisconsin’s agriculture community generates nearly $104 billion annually for our state’s economy. The UW Short Course helps prepare the next generation of farmers and ensures Wisconsin remains on the cutting edge of on- farm innovation. The Farm & Industry Short Course has been a bedrock of the farming community and, has been foundational to the Agriculture-University relationship since 1885.

As a mother of five, dairy farmer, taxpayer and committed citizen of Wisconsin, I urge the University to reconsider its decision to make wholesale changes to the Short Course, including to accreditation and on-campus living components of the program. If invited, DBA and our members would welcome an opportunity to talk with University officials and other stakeholders about how to improve the course going forward.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Amy Penterman