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Wisconsin farmer says discussing issues with lawmakers is important

A farmer says it’s important to let lawmakers know what is important to their operations. 

Sandy Larson from Larson Acres near Evansville, Wisconsin tells Brownfield it was necessary for her to take part in the Dairy Business Association’s Dairy Day at the Capitol and make face-to-face contact with her elected officials about agriculture issues. “I came today to make a contact with the people that represent me in my area. I have a new legislative person, and I really want to make that face-to-face contact.”

Nearly one-third of the Wisconsin Legislature has new, first-time representatives and senators.

Larson says another issue is the large number of lawmakers that come from the cities and have no farm experience. “Ours are from Beloit and that’s a big city, and they have a lot of rural people that count on them, so I need to make sure that they can call me.”

And, Larson’s top issue is supporting the state’s ag coalition’s 150-million-dollar local road funding bill. “County roads especially, not even just the local ones. County roads are getting really bad and we need to make sure that they can upgrade them properly so they can last longer.”

Larson’s 18 hundred cows send five loads of milk every day, so having good roads without spring weight limits is important to her family’s farm.