About Us

Early History of NWGN

NWGN, Northwest Wisconsin Graziers Network:  Management-intensive grazing (managed grazing) is a growing alternative for NW Wisconsin farmers. Managed grazing not only fits dairy, beef, small ruminants and other livestock, it fits an environmental ethic that crosses boundaries between farmers and non-farm neighbors.  It helps reduce nutrient and moisture runoff.  Managed grazing is more sustainable with the shorter growing season and light soils of the region.  It helps new people more - easily get into livestock farming.  It supports a growing market for grass-fed and organic livestock products.

NWGN was started in the 1990s to address the issues above.  Among the initial founders were Gary Schmiedlin and Patrick Richter, Barron County soil conservationists, Wayne Jansen, a Polk County dairy farmer, Gene Nelson, an Organic farming inspector, and Tim Jergenson, the Polk County Extension Agent.  The focus area on the Network initially included four counties in Northwest Wisconsin - Polk, Barron, Burnett and Washburn.  Two counties to the east were later added - Sawyer and Rusk.  These were not hard boundaries.  Grazing planning and other activities were often shared with other networks.

Contacts:

• UW-Madison Extension, Kevin Schoessow

  (715) 635-3506

• NW Graziers, Lynn Johnson

  (715) 225-9882