Conservation Bus Tour: Northwest Region

All Aboard! Join us for an exciting adventure as we criss-cross Dairyland’s fields and farms learning about different conservation practices that the women stewards of Wisconsin have implemented on their land, as well as their farming styles, from grazing to seed saving . Our Conservation Bus Tour will include scenic drives through rural Wisconsin and stops at photo-worthy points of interest as well! From the bleating of goats under managed grazing to the importance of native plants, come, see it all!

All women farmers, landowners and conservationists from Polk, Barron, Dunn, Eau Claire, Chippewa, Clark,  and surrounding counties are welcome to attend-- wherever you are in your journey, from beginners to experts!

Speakers:

• Ayla Dodge, WiWIC Networking Coach and Blackbrook Farm Co-owner.
• Michelle Carlisle of the DNR presenting on the Star Prairie Seed Farm
• Kass McKinnon, WiWiC Networking Coach and Cultivating the Commons 

Wisconsin Women in Conservation Host: WiWiC Networking Coaches Kass McKinnon and Ayla Dodge, and Mercedes Talvitie, NW WiWiC Coordinator and Marbleseed Climate and Conservation Program Manager.

Location:  The tour will begin promptly at Blackbrook farm (1150 35th Ave. Amery, WI 54001) please arrive by 10:15 so we can begin promptly. Participants will park here, and leave their cars while touring in the bus.

Agenda:

• Welcome/ Introductions at Blackbrook Farm with tour lead by Ayla
• Tour of Star Prairie Seed Farm with Michelle
• Tour of Cultivating the Commons with Kass
• Wrap up about conservation plans and retrieve cars from Blackbrook Farm

Food:

• Drinks will be in a cooler, but please bring your own water
• Light lunch will be provided by Fiddlehead Kitchen, please share any food allergies or dietary restrictions with Mercedes Talvitie (mercedes.talvitie@marbleseed.org)

Event Details:

• Event is charged at a nominal fee of $10 per person; space is limited.
• Women, all who identify as such, are welcome to attend – from landowners to farmers to conservationist enthusiasts. Our WiWiC events provide time and a safe space for story sharing, networking and collaborative learning. We all have something to both share and learn together.
• Dress for the weather.  Bring a sunhat, sunscreen and good walking shoes. Food/ snacks/ water will be provided.
• We ask that all attendees at field days where livestock are present observe biosecurity practices. Wear clean shoes or boots that have not been worn on other farms with livestock or livestock buildings, or around a dense population of wild birds. We will provide optional booties for participants.
• Buses will leave from and return to the same location. The hosts have made sure that there is sufficient parking available at this location.
• We will get in and out of the bus at two locations and will have step stools to help.
• Photos will be taken at this event and used for educational purposes only by WiWiC and the partner groups.  If you do not wish to have your picture taken, let the on-site WiWiC host know.

Children:

Children are welcome at all WiWiC events. While we want to support women with children to attend our events, due to capacity issues, this event can accommodate only up to 10 kids. If you plan to bring your kid(s), please register early, and let the event host know by email.

Email (of the coordinator):  mercedes.talvitie@marbleseed.org

We ask that the kids are accompanied and SUPERVISED AT ALL TIMES by the parent/guardian. WiWiC does not take responsibility/ liability for the kids at any time/ event.

Wisconsin Women in Conservation (WiWiC) is a state-wide collaborative effort led by the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute in partnership with Wisconsin Farmers Union, Renewing the Countryside and Marbleseed.  A five-year multi-faceted project funded by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), WiWiC brings together Wisconsin's women landowners, farmers, farm workers, urban growers, and conservation professionals to connect and share about conservation practices, resources, and funding opportunities.