Forward State

Shelly Mayer Professional Dairy Producers

A few months ago I sat in on a township meeting where land-use policy was the topic – specifically, the rezoning of “A 1 Exclusive Ag” and “A 2 Ag Land” to “Rural Residential” land. It’s a change that might enable suburban‐style spread. The unknown factor in the equation is the ultimate cost of such a decision. From my position as a mother, farmer and parent of the seventh generation poised to farm on our land, the implications feel alarmingly reckless.

The apparently-local issue is quickly revealing itself to have much-broader significance. When land is treated like a commodity rather than a hard-earned legacy, we risk chipping away at the very bedrock of rural America. Short-term thinking – whether by farmers or elected officials – can erode the physical landscape, as well as our food systems, groundwater quality, rural culture and trust in governance.

Ironically, some of the same concerns used to justify rezoning – groundwater depletion, waste management and traffic congestion – are made worse by seeing it through. A patchwork of private wells and septic systems with promises of quaint country living often conflict with the realities of unplowed driveways, limited utility services and insufficient infrastructure. And what about farmland? It disappears.

I believe local leaders do not act from a place of ill will. They are responding to changing needs and input from community members they represent. But reactions must align with the vision.

We need elected officials who will lift their voices and ask, “What do we want our rural communities to look like in 30 years? How do we safeguard locally produced food? How do we marry growth and stewardship?”

Those questions and more will have a platform for discussion in a series of Agricultural Community Engagement – ACE® – Twilight Meetings, scheduled for Aug. 25, 26, 27 and 28 on four progressive dairy farms around Wisconsin. Open to the public, each meeting runs from 6 to 8:30 p.m., beginning with a farm tour. That’s followed by ice cream and open dialogue with farmers, community leaders, elected officials and interested citizens. Thanks to a collaboration between the Wisconsin Towns Association, the Wisconsin Counties Association and Professional Dairy Producers®, the events are designed to facilitate candid conversations on topics of mutual concern – such as water, current and future land use, roads and bridges, wind and solar energy, and additional topics as mentioned by those attending.

The meetings are designed to share experiences, data and plausible solutions, plus collectively build rural plans from the ground up based on ecological realities and real-life wisdom gained by generational farming.

Every farmer has a responsibility in these matters. We need to be intentional about business succession, land transfer and educating future generations. If we treat farmland merely as an appreciating asset or the metaphorical keys to a buyout, we forfeit the chance to pass on something far-more valuable – land rooted in heritage, memory and potential.

Current rezoning decisions impact the future. They matter to the next generation eager to farm, to neighbors relying on clean water, and to a democracy reaching toward open dialogue and mutual respect.

Here is my challenge.

• Elected leaders – see beyond the quarterly tax-revenue report.

• Farm families – invest in your succession story.

• Everyone else – join us at one or more of the upcoming ACE Twilight meetings.

Let’s talk, listen and dream together. Thoughtful planning is not just about tossing around worn-out platitudes. It’s joining forces for the sake of citizenship, sound stewardship and good sense. Once farmland is gone, it's gone for good.

Visit pdpw.org for more information.