 | | As participants in the Discovery Farms program, the Bragger Family has helped shape environmental policy for the state.
| Joe and Noel Bragger and their children Rosli, John, Tessa and Allison, farm together with Dan Bragger (Joe's brother) and Hildegard Bragger (Joe's mother) on the Bragger Family Farm, a multi-faceted operation located in the hilly region of west central Wisconsin. Their goal on the family farm is "working to assure a healthy farm economy and a healthy environment." "Over 200 of 270 acres of our cropland fall within 300 feet of a stream or intermittent stream. And we're not alone. Farms in driftless areas of the state characterized by the steeper hills and low valleys, like ours, face many environmental challenges. We work hard to minimize our farm's impact on the environment and protect our land and water resources. We practice no-till cropping methods, plant our fields in contour strips and have incorporated grass waterways to keep our soil in place. We also reinforce our stream banks with riprap, participate in prairie restoration and management, and follow a nutrient management plan for our entire farm. And we work with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and a local sports club to raise 4,000 trout each year in our trout-rearing pond. " "Considering the diverse agricultural industry in Wisconsin, it is hard to make one-size-fits-all policies. We have worked hard on this farm to put together a creative system to conserve soil and enhance water quality."
~ Joe Bragger "We became involved with the UW-Extension Discovery Farms program because we feel it's really important that we assess what challenges are really out there on working farms and not just perceived when it comes to the environment. We need to document and study these challenges, and finally find solutions that make sense, both environmentally and economically, and work on real farms. All of us believe that it is important to be involved in shaping agricultural policies that will not only promote economic incentive and wildlife habitat but also green space for all to enjoy. We also feel it's important to share our farm and what we learn with other farmers as well as researchers and policy makers in order to let them know the issues that exist within agriculture. This will ultimately lead to successful policies that will be positive not only for all Wisconsin producers but for our environment as well." In testament to Joe's dedication to the environment, he was named "Conservation Farmer of the Year" in 2001, and he is also the recipient of the 2011 Wisconsin Leopold Conservation Award.  Leopold Conservation Award on Wisconsin Dairy News
It's an award that's presented annually in eight states, and this year a Wisconsin dairy farm family is recognized for their dedication to land stewardship and management of natural resources. We'll introduce you to the Bragger family, recipients of the 2011 Leopold Conservation Award. Wisconsin Dairy News, produced by the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Inc. 2011
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