Ride to Farm: June 12-14, 2009

Ride to Farm is a 200-mile bicycle ride to raise awareness and funds for the Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers (WSBDF). Retiring farmers are leaving farming at a much faster rate than new farmers are starting. The school meets the critical need to train, mentor and support Wisconsin’s next generation of dairy and livestock farmers.

Who’s doing it? Principal cyclists are high school/FFA instructor Merle Richter, Bloomer; CVTC instructor Brad Sirianni, Whitehall; WSBDF Director Dick Cates; and WSBDF Associate Director Jennifer Taylor. About two dozen riders will join them.

Where? The ride starts this year at Lake Farm Centennial Park in Madison, Wisconsin. After three days, riders will finish where they started at Lake Farm Centennial Park. Tune in to your local radio station and watch the newspapers for more information! Event stops include two farms, two parks and a Culvers restaurant.

How can YOU get involved? Collect pledges for the riders, all of whom support the school, or make a direct contribution. Plus, you are welcome to come to any of the ride stops along the way! At our events you will have the opportunity to ask about the WSBDF and the UW Farm and Industry Short Course programs, visit with cyclists and program graduates, and see what successful farm managers do as they put their practical education to work on their own operations.

Ride to Farm sponsors: American Transmission Co., Culvers  Restaurants, Family Dairies USA, Farm Credit-Wisconsin, Organic Valley Family of Farms, Town & Country Electric, United FCS, We Energies, Wisconsin Farmers Union, Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association, Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board and the UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.

Donate online!

The UW Foundation has created an online donation page for the School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers, and Ride to Farm. Click on the “Donate” link above or go directly to this page on the Foundation’s website.