Farming in the Driftless Region—Success and Challenges

On Thursday, November 12 at 7:00pm a panel of local farmers will present their experiences and opinions on the success and challenges of farming in Crawford and Vernon Counties. This free event will be held at the Soldiers Grove Community room, cosponsored by Crawford Stewardship Project and the Soldiers Grove Public Library.

The four farmers who have volunteered to offer their perspectives include:

Darin Von Ruden, an organic dairy farmer from Westby area, member of the Westby Coop, and Farmers Union Representative.www.westbycreamery.com


Bob Molini is a Crawford County organic dairy farmer and member of Organic Valley, www.organicvalley.coop


Dean Zimmerman raises pastured and grass fed livestock and markets locally his chickens, eggs, turkeys, pork and lamb, as well as working with the Crawford Area Growers Local Food Alliance. www.couleeviewfarm.com


Josh Engel is an organic produce grower in Crawford County, marketing locally and regionally, www.driftlessorganics.com


Please come to learn and to offer your ideas at this community event. There will be plenty of time for community discussion. Refreshments will be served.

Call CSP at 608-735-4277 or the Library at 608-624-5815 for more information.

"While CAFOs clearly are profitable, they are only profitable because so much of the cost and damage is externalized onto the environment, neighbors and wildlife. The monitoring, supervision, clean-up, restitution, fines are not happening, thus the true cost of CAFOs never find the way onto the balance books." Talking point from the CAFO Conference.