Matthew Keesling served active duty in the U.S. Army for 24 years. Upon his retirement he chose to move to North Central Wisconsin and begin his career as a dairy farmer. Josh Scramlin talks with Matthew about the transition from army to ag and what life has been like for him on the farm.

Matthew Keesling served active duty in the U.S. Army for 24 years. Upon his retirement he chose to move to North Central Wisconsin and begin his career as a dairy farmer. Josh Scramlin talks with Matthew about the transition from army to ag and what life has been like for him on the farm.

Join Pam Jahnke for the latest farm news. Heard daily on WOZN 96.7 FM and 1670 AM in Madison Wisconsin from 5-6am. Also heard on affiliate stations all over Wisconsin.

Join Pam Jahnke for the latest farm news. Heard daily on WOZN 96.7 FM and 1670 AM in Madison Wisconsin from 5-6am. Also heard on affiliate stations all over Wisconsin.

MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

Daily audio and podcasts from the Mid-West Farm Report Madison!

Daily audio and podcasts from the Mid-West Farm Report Madison!

Army to Dairy: Veteran Chooses Agriculture for Post-Military Career

Dust off your boots and grab your cowboy hats because the Midwest Horse Fair is about to get a whole lot wilder as 5 cowboys and 5 cowgirls will compete in the Top Hand Challenge. Pam bound, the competition chair says  A competition of grit, showcasing a range of speed, roping and precision, all for $5,000 in cash.

"We took the top five riders, both men and women, who had to qualify for this prestigious event. This year, we're proud to announce an exciting lineup, including a pair of brothers in the top five and a mother-daughter duo competing in the ladies division."

The competition takes place at 1:00 PM on April 21at the Showtime Arena, with general admission included with entry to the Midwest Horse Fair. 

So, what exactly are these talented competitors facing? The five challenging events include:
Breakaway Roping: Riders must rope a calf with a bell collar catch around the neck, with the rope breaking away to stop the time.
Pole Bending: Weaving through six poles in the fastest time, with penalties for knocking over any poles.
Steer Stopping: Roping the steer with horns and stopping its forward movement.
Heeling: Roping one or two hind feet of a steer after it crosses a designated point, with penalties for missing.
Barrel Racing: Maneuvering around three barrels in a specified pattern, with precise turns to secure the fastest time.

Dust off your boots and grab your cowboy hats because the Midwest Horse Fair is about to get a whole lot wilder as 5 cowboys and 5 cowgirls will compete in the Top Hand Challenge. Pam bound, the competition chair says  A competition of grit, showcasing a range of speed, roping and precision, all for $5,000 in cash.
"We took the top five riders, both men and women, who had to qualify for this prestigious event. This year, we're proud to announce an exciting lineup, including a pair of brothers in the top five and a mother-daughter duo competing in the ladies division."
The competition takes place at 1:00 PM on April 21at the Showtime Arena, with general admission included with entry to the Midwest Horse Fair. 
So, what exactly are these talented competitors facing? The five challenging events include:
<ol>
<li>Breakaway Roping: Riders must rope a calf with a bell collar catch around the neck, with the rope breaking away to stop the time.</li>
<li>Pole Bending: Weaving through six poles in the fastest time, with penalties for knocking over any poles.</li>
<li>Steer Stopping: Roping the steer with horns and stopping its forward movement.</li>
<li>Heeling: Roping one or two hind feet of a steer after it crosses a designated point, with penalties for missing.</li>
<li>Barrel Racing: Maneuvering around three barrels in a specified pattern, with precise turns to secure the fastest time.</li>
</ol>

Riding to Victory: Top Hand Challenge Takes Center Stage at Midwest Horse Fair

Jim Versweyvld, UW-Extension Farm Management Specialist says farms need to slow down and think about how they introduce new employees to their farming duties.  Clear communications about duties and policies like cell phone use are key.
It's all about the numbers. 

The latest Census of Agriculture painted a pretty bleak picture if you looked at the cumulative trend for Wisconsin farms.  Stephanie Hoff tries to get a grasp on the trends with the help of Jeff Hadacheck, ag economist, who explains the influences behind the trends.

Curt Larson, President and CEO of Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales Association says they're months away from reopening an idle livestock facility in Maquoketa, Iowa.  Larson says the building was erected back in the 60's and was state-of-the-art at the time.  Now, they're repairing fences and replacing scales.  He said their hope is to have it fully operational by late summer, early fall.  He explains the situation to Pam Jahnke.

MMore jobs than graduates!  That's the story for the graduating class at UW-Platteville's ag school this spring.  Charitee Seebecker discusses numbers and high demand areas with Dr. Tera Montgomery.

Jim Versweyvld, UW-Extension Farm Management Specialist says farms need to slow down and think about how they introduce new employees to their farming duties.  Clear communications about duties and policies like cell phone use are key. It's all about the numbers. 
The latest Census of Agriculture painted a pretty bleak picture if you looked at the cumulative trend for Wisconsin farms.  Stephanie Hoff tries to get a grasp on the trends with the help of Jeff Hadacheck, ag economist, who explains the influences behind the trends. Curt Larson, President and CEO of Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales Association says they're months away from reopening an idle livestock facility in Maquoketa, Iowa.  Larson says the building was erected back in the 60's and was state-of-the-art at the time.  Now, they're repairing fences and replacing scales.  He said their hope is to have it fully operational by late summer, early fall.  He explains the situation to Pam Jahnke.
MMore jobs than graduates!  That's the story for the graduating class at UW-Platteville's ag school this spring.  Charitee Seebecker discusses numbers and high demand areas with Dr. Tera Montgomery.

Take Care Of New Employees - And More Jobs Than Grads

Whether you're getting married at the farm or your farm is the venue -- put insurance on the to-do list! Carmen Brueggen Katsma is a Rural Mutual Insurance agent out of Poynette. She says she’s seen the wedding barn industry boom in her neck of the woods and she serves a number of them on their insurance needs. She walks us through the basics: the type of insurance you'll need, how to customize the insurance, and common claims.

Whether you're getting married at the farm or your farm is the venue -- put insurance on the to-do list! Carmen Brueggen Katsma is a Rural Mutual Insurance agent out of Poynette. She says she’s seen the wedding barn industry boom in her neck of the woods and she serves a number of them on their insurance needs. She walks us through the basics: the type of insurance you'll need, how to customize the insurance, and common claims.

Army to Dairy: Veteran Chooses Agriculture for Post-Military Career

MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

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