News from Nancy

A good, Good Friday to you and Happy Easter. Please especially make sure to make it to the bottom of this message to take a peek at all of the events going on throughout the district this weekend and over the next couple weeks.

Did you know that April is military child appreciation month? Each year, April is set aside as a military child appreciation month, officially known as Month of the Military Child. With its start in the mid-1980s, the Pentagon and other military support organizations and agencies use the month to recognize military kids for their sacrifice and bravery on the homefront. Because purple is a color used to represent all military services, the theme "Purple Up" is used over the course of the month. The importance of this recognition especially resonates close to home in the Monroe County area because of the large number of men, women, and families living in the area that are currently serving, or recently served our country. I enjoyed the opportunity to attend a local Month of the Military Child Celebration recently held at Cranberry Country Lodge in Tomah, co-hosted by Sparta School District Administrator Dr. Amy Van Deuren, and Tomah School District Superintendent Cindy Zahrte. Among other attendees and honorees from the event, I’m pictured above with Wisconsin Department of Instruction State School Superintendent Carolyn Stanford Taylor, who graciously attended and addressed attendees, and also Colonel Kim, Garrison Commander at Fort McCoy.
 
Thank you to those of you that completed and turned in your questionnaire for the 2017 Census of Wisconsin Agriculture. If you remember, I had shared former Secretary Harsdorf’s reminder just over a year ago so that our state could accurately be represented in the census and continue to be a leader in response rate for the survey (https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/News_Media/20180215CensusReminder.aspx). In case you’re not familiar, as stated by the Farm Bureau, “The Census of Ag is a herculean effort undertaken by USDA every five years by a staff of dedicated professionals intent on asking the right questions, in the right way, in order to paint the most accurate picture of U.S. agriculture at the time the data is collected. One small point of reference to highlight how seriously USDA takes the Census of Agriculture - the response rate for the 2017 Census of Agriculture was 71.8 percent.” A message from current DATCP Secretary-designee Brad Pfaff is included below with some summary information on statewide results from the census. Here’s a link with some more preliminary information on the results from Farm Bureau that you might find interesting too - https://www.fb.org/market-intel/the-2017-census-of-agriculture-our-first-take.
 
In case you weren’t aware, earlier this month the Assembly convened for a floor session in Madison. As part of that session, we passed legislation that removes the “R-word” from agency rules. The legislation instructs state agencies to replace this phrase and any phrase similar to it with “intellectual disability.” Governor Evers recently issued an executive order for state agencies to carry out the intent of the bill, but this legislation was necessary to ensure that the word was removed and not used by the state in the future. My full related statement on support for the legislation and it’s passage can be found here - https://tinyurl.com/yy9yxf8f.
 
As you’re probably aware, the top priority currently for me and my colleagues in the legislature is to approve a new two-year spending plan. Governor Evers has made a recommendation to the legislature, which is currently being reviewed. As is constitutionally provided for, the legislature, in conjunction with the legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance are responsible for budgetary appropriations for the two-year budget cycle. I recently shared an opinion column with local media that illustrates some of my thoughts on our taxes, our investments with those taxes, and the Governor’s proposal too. Please keep an eye out in your local newspaper for the column or you can read it here - https://tinyurl.com/yykkovqn.

Please continue to utilize my legislative website, legis.wisconsin.gov/
assembly/70/vandermeer
, and follow Rep. Nancy VanderMeer on Facebook to communicate with me and receive up to date information and communication.

 Sincerely,


Nancy VanderMeer
70th Assembly District Representative
Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection News Release:

'Amid Changes, Wisconsin Agriculture Remains Strong, Pfaff Says'
 

​​Release Date: April 11, 2019

MADISON – The foundation of Wisconsin agriculture is strong, says Brad Pfaff, DATCP Secretary-designee in response to the release of the 2017 Census of Agriculture. Census data shows that the vast majority of farms in our state are less than 500 acres, with the majority of farms owned by one or two producers. Dairy and livestock continue to play a major role in our state’s agriculture landscape and economy.

“The census data demonstrates what many of us have long known,” said Pfaff. “Wisconsin agriculture is broad, diverse, and strong. Each farm enterprise is unique, and our state still provides opportunities for operations of all types and sizes.”

“More than 10 percent of our state’s producers are 35 or younger, and their farms have an average annual production value of almost $319,000,” Pfaff says. “With 22 percent of our producers being new or beginning farmers, it’s clear people are optimistic for the future of Wisconsin agriculture.”

Other notable findings in the ag census:

  • Wisconsin remains a leader in organic agriculture, second only to California. The number of organic farms has grown 30 percent in the past five years, to 1,537. The total value of organic sales grew by 105 percent, to $248.6 million annually.
  • Direct-to-consumer sales grew to almost $47 million, a 46 percent increase.
  • At 1,900 dairy goat herds, Wisconsin leads the nation.
  • Producers who identify as Hispanic own 591 farms; American Indians, 253 farms; Asian, 383 farms; Black, 76 farms; and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 34 farms. 

Detailed information from the census is available at nass.usda.gov.

The full release can be found at https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/News_Media/AgCensus2017.aspx

 
Upcoming Events in the 70th
 
Sparta FFA Annual Easter Egg Hunt
Theisen's, 3000 S. Black River St.

Saturday, April 20, 9:00am-1:00pm

Tomah Easter Egg Hunt & Party
Tomah Masonic Lodge, 520 E. Saratoga St.
Saturday, April 20, 1:00pm-4:00pm for kids, 6:00pm-9:00pm for adults

Free. Open to the public. Easter egg hunt and Easter bonnet contest, as well as other games and entertainment.

Tomah FFA Annual Banquet

Tomah High School Cafe/Auditorium
Sunday, April 28, 1:00pm

Tomah Area School District Art Show
Tomah High School Commons
Friday, May 3, 5:00pm


Pittsville Open House
Pittsville Community Center, 5291 3rd Ave.
Friday, April 26, 11:00am-1:00pm

Free food, car seat checks, games, WIC Q&A, face painting, crafts and more. Story time will follow in the library

Pittsville Lions Blood Drive
Lions Club House, 5572 Fourth Ave.
Monday, April 29, 1:00pm-6:00pm

For appointment, call 1-800-733-2767

Discover Wisconsin Sparta Summer Tourism Kickoff
Jakes Northwood's Restaurant, 1132 Angelo Road, Sparta
Wednesday, May 1, 6:00pm
Food, refreshments, and enjoy watching the premier of Sparta's episode of "Discover Wisconsin." Free to those who register with the Sparta Chamber at 608-269-4123 or $2.00 at the door.
Our mailing address is:
Suite 11W
P.O. Box 8953
Wisconsin State Capitol
Madison, WI 53708

Email: Rep.VanderMeer@legis.wisconsin.gov
Phone: (608) 237-9170

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