In conjunction with Count Me in for Women’s Economic Independence, the Make Mine a Million $ Business Wisconsin Program highlighted many woman-owned businesses throughout Wisconsin and gave awards to a select few to help them reach their goal of making their business worth a million dollars or more.

Appleton artist Tim Mayer presented portraits of Wisconsin service men and women who died in Iraq and Afghanistan in a special ceremony at the Capitol May 17.

This breakout session of the two-day statewide conference at Madison's Monona Terrace May 14-15, focused on the view points of a policy maker, Paul DeLong of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Lynn Wilson of Plum Creek Timber Company, an industry professional.

This session of the two-day statewide conference at Madison's Monona Terrace May 14-15, examined the benefits of developing strong cultural life in rural communities.

This session of the two-day statewide conference at Madison's Monona Terrace May 14-15 examined the population status of rural counties in Wisconsin its effect on public schools. It also examined different programs that are working to educate the rural leaders of tomorrow.

Molly Jahn, the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison spoke in this breakout session of the two-day statewide conference at Madison's Monona Terrace May 14-15. Jahn is an expert in plant breeding and genetics of agricultural plants.

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk spoke in this breakout session of the two-day statewide conference at Madison's Monona Terrace May 14-15. Falk, a democrat, has been a candidate for Governor and Attorney General.

Jessica Berger, the State FFA Treasurer spoke in this breakout session of the two-day statewide conference at Madison's Monona Terrace May 14-15.

Andrew Christenson, the State FFA Vice President spoke in this breakout session of the two-day statewide conference at Madison's Monona Terrace May 14-15.

In this breakout session of the two-day statewide conference at Madison's Monona Terrace May 14-15, a panel discussed specific tools for preserving working lands including agricultural enterprise zones, Purchase Development Rights programs and Farmland Preservation Programs.

This breakout session of the two-day statewide conference at Madison's Monona Terrace May 14-15, explored the importance of inter-sector and inter-governmental collaboration in assessing equitable land use policies for many stakeholder groups. Rick Stadelman, executive director of the Wisconsin Towns Association, discussed what town officials are observing on the issue of preserving working lands and his take on what tools would best help town officials with these issues. Curt Meine of the International Crane Foundation discussed the need to base land use, development and conservation strategies on shared values and common goals, and to coordinate conservation actions within larger landscape, watershed, and ecosystem context.

This breakout session of the two-day statewide conference at Madison's Monona Terrace May 14-15, is a workshop that focused on strategies for reversing the trend of aggregation of food production and the invasion of national chains for everything from food to hardware services that take profits out of rural communities and move them to urban areas. The workshop examined case studies from a number of successful community development projects that used a variety of funding sources to strengthen rural communities.

Secretary of the Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection Rod Nilsestuen outlined his view of the challenges and opportunities in Wisconsin’s rural economy at a two-day statewide conference at Madison's Monona Terrace May 14-15.

This breakout session of the two-day statewide conference at Madison's Monona Terrace May 14-15, is a policy discussion on environmental impact factors. It also considered the consequences to farmers of policy decisions meant to protect soil and water quality. Representatives of different kinds and sizes of operations and different stakeholder groups took on the issues. The speakers included Daphne Holterman of Rosy Lane Holsteins, Shelly Mayer of Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin, Bert Paris of Dayton Ridge Farm and Gordon Stevenson of the Department of Natural Resources.

Dick Cates and Tom Cadawallader focus on young farmers and beginning farmers, in this breakout session of the two-day statewide conference at Madison's Monona Terrace May 14-15. They highlight The School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers and their work to prepare the next generation of Wisconsin farmers.

Congressional Staffer for Sen. Russ Feingold, Mike Schmidt and Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation Director of Government Relations Jeff Lyon examined aspects of the 2007 Farm Bill and took questions on policy implications, the legislative process and expected outcomes. This breakout session of the two-day statewide conference at Madison's Monona Terrace was attended by about 400 farmers, academics and government leaders May 14-15.

Two Farmers -- John Rosenow, CEO of Rosenbholm-Wolfe Dairy and Heather Smith, co-owner of Smith Gardens Community Farm -- one described as experienced, innovative and industrial and the other as young, innovative, organic and sustainable examined key issues, challenges and opportunities for production agriculture in the coming decades in this session of the two-day statewide conference at Madison's Monona Terrace May 14-15.

Presented by Greg Lawless of the Agriculture Innovation Center and Trevor Bohland of United Bank, this segment of the conference on May 14, entitled "Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Production Agriculture," focused on new ideas and tools used by farmers to keep up with an ever-changing marketplace.

Innovations in state and federal food policy highlighted this breakout session of the two-day statewide conference at Madison's Monona Terrace May 14-15. Speakers addressed the proposed "Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin" Program, pending federal legislation that addresses state and federal meat inspection standards, and other food policy issues relating to the 2007 Farm Bill.

This presentation, a break session from the two-day statewide conference at Madison's Monona Terrace May 14-15, addressed the changes in the structure of agriculture in the United States and Wisconsin. Particular attention was placed on renewing what presenters called the “agriculture of the middle,” farms that have increasing difficulty succeeding in global commodity markets and have trouble marketing food products directly to local consumers.

Reauthorization of the federal farm bill offers Congress a unique opportunity to reinvest in rural America U.S. Rep. Ron Kind told attendees of this two-day statewide conference at Madison's Monona Terrace May 14-15. Kind discussed his Healthy Farms, Foods and Fuels Act of 2007, which he says would expand farm conservation programs, renewable energy, and direct marketing opportunities such as farmer's markets and farm-to-cafeteria. In addition, Kind talked about his legislation to extend health insurance coverage to farmers.

Panelists in this breakout session of the two-day statewide conference at Madison's Monona Terrace May 14-15 addressed the availability of healthy food in rural and urban settings. The panelists discussed the extent of the issue and highlighted some innovative approaches being taken to ensure their availability in those areas.

Steve Larson of Hoard's Dairyman examined the successful history of Wisconsin agriculture in all its forms. There was particular emphasis on the roles of research and education (especially the University of Wisconsin and University Extension), cooperative organization, and community, state and individual leadership. The event was a breakout session of the two-day statewide conference at Madison's Monona Terrace May 14-15.

This breakout session of the two-day statewide conference at Madison's Monona Terrace May 14-15, explored spreading the benefits of the bioeconomy to landowners and workers across Wisconsin, through local ownership strategies and state policies including tax incentives and grants for bioenergy production and workforce development programs. Speakers included Brett Hulsey of Better Environment Solutions, Kate Gordon of the Center on Wisconsin Strategy and Jeff Pieterick of the Wisconsin Biodiesel Association.

This breakout session of the two-day statewide conference at Madison's Monona Terrace May 14-15, examines the constraints and opportunities for regional development and the need for citizen investment in local efforts for collaboration. We explore some of the strategies that might be used to promote greater coordination and collaboration among urban and rural communities. It also examined some recent case studies and some of the lessons learned from successful regional efforts. Speakers at the session included Stan Gruszynski of UW-Stevens Point GEM Program and Gary Green of UW-Madison.

Gary Zimmer and A.J. Bussan discuss future trends in the Wisconsin food industry. From global competition to the emerging interest in local and organic food, the panel discusses Wisconsin's role in the food production industry.

Ricardo Pimental, Editorial Page Editor for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel spoke at the "Education: A Family Affair" ceremony May 11. He shared stories from his past, focusing around his experiences with immigration and his career as a journalist.

UW-Madison students present findings from their study of private property and its relationship with the environment. The presentation took place in the UW Madison Science Hall May 10, under the direction of Prof. Harvey Jacobs.

Puentes (Spanish for "bridges"), a program which helps Wisconsin farmers and the Mexicans who work for them meet across the/e barriers of language and culture, held this event May 8 at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art Lecture Hall in the Overture Center. The event, entitled "Wisconsin Farmers and Mexican Workers: Building Bridges between Two Cultures," included Puentes founders Shaun Judge Duvall, Carl Duley and dairy farmer John Rosenow. The program was in conjunction with the Wisconsin Academy's multiyear initiative, The Future of Farming and Rural Life in Wisconsin.

His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, addressed University of Wisconsin students and a general audience at the Kohl Center in Madison May 4. The Deer Park Buddhist Center of Oregon, Wis. sponsored the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner, who deliver a speech titled, “Compassion: The Source of Happiness.”

Experts in the field of economics gathered at the Concourse Hotel in Madison May 2 to discuss best practices for economic development in regions throughout Wisconsin.

United Way of Dane County held an awards ceremony to recognize local residents for exceptional volunteer work in Dane County. The event was held at the Concourse Hotel and hosted by Jessica Doyle and Becky Hillier.