Photo Gallery: Visit to Southwest Wisconsin with the College of Agricultural & Life Sciences
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On May 3, representatives from UW–Madison, led by Dean Kate VandenBosch from the UW College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, visited southwest Wisconsin and toured Tranel Family Farms outside of Cuba City with university partner Organic Valley.
The farm is a supplier for Organic Valley and is owned by State Rep. Travis Tranel and his family partners. The day wrapped up at Organic Valley’s Cashton, WI business center where representatives from Organic Valley, UW Athletics, UW Center for Dairy Profitability, UW Agronomy, and UW Plant Pathology discussed the Organic Valley and UW-Madison partnership and future opportunities to work together.
Organic Valley and its members have been strong supporters of the university’s work, including creating an endowed professorship and contributing towards the renovation of Babcock Hall.
UW College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Dean Kate VandenBosch is joined by representatives from Organic Valley, UW Athletics, UW Center for Dairy Profitability, UW Agronomy, and UW Plant Pathology at the Tranel Family Farms outside of Cuba City, owned by State Rep. Travis Tranel.State Rep. Travis Tranel, a fifth generation dairy farmer, shares details of his operation with the guests from CALS, Organic Valley and State Relations.Travis Tranel discusses possible future agricultural research projects with Dean Kate VandenBosch on his farm in Cuba City.Cows at Tranel Family Farms sport orange fitbit-like devices in their ears to monitor health.A sign at Organic Valley welcomes UW–Madison to their business center in Cashton, Wisconsin.Some of the Organic Valley products, including Organic Fuel, a protein recovery drink made of organic products in Wisconsin by Organic Valley and used by UW Athletics in the Performance Nutrition program.Kara Luedtke, Dean Kate VandenBosch, Rep. Nancy Vander Meer and Rep. Jill Billings stop by the “Barbara” cow mural at Organic Valley during a tour of the Cashton facility. Organic Valley supports a variety of programs in the college, including the Center for Dairy Research, Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, the School for Beginning Dairy Farmers and organic cropping systems research.CALS Agronomist, and Organic Valley/Clif Bar endowed chair Bill Tracy, Director of Public Affairs for Organic Valley Ann O’Connor, Organic Valley Director of Farm Milk Management Beth Wells, UW Director for the Center for Dairy Profitability Mark Stephenson, Organic Valley Farmer Kevin Mahalko, and UW Professor Erin Silva in a discussion during CALS visit to Organic Valley in Cashton, Wisconsin.