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Wisconsin Farm Bureau member never misses annual meeting

A western Wisconsin farmer believes so strongly in the farming community and Farm Bureau, he has never missed an annual state meeting. 

Carl Casper tells Brownfield, “This is my 60^th consecutive annual meeting.”

Casper’s family farm is west of Menomonie. He tells Brownfield he’s seen a lot of changes, but the farming people never change. “These farmers care about their neighbor and each other. More than the general public, these folks are concerned about their neighbor.”

Casper says Farm Bureau delegates make policy that’s good for everyone, not just for themselves.  He says Farm Bureau policy has helped get facts before lawmakers, and one example was the fight back in the mid-1990s to have Wisconsin farmland taxed on its actual use and not on its development potential.

And Casper’s advice for young farmers and those just starting out? “Oh, just hang in there and it will get better. No job or career is perfect, you know there will be a couple of rough spots in it but just hang in there and you’ll be okay.”

Casper says the farm has been in the family since 1886, and the seventh generation is now growing up there.

Casper received a standing ovation after being recognized for his long support of Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation during their Annual Meeting and Young Farmers and Agriculturalist Conference in Wisconsin Dells Saturday.

AUDIO: Carl Casper talks with Brownfield’s Larry Lee at the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Annual Meeting