"Wisconsin Women in Conservation (WiWiC), a new state-wide coalition of landowners and conservation agencies, is offering a free on-line “Spring Into Conservation!” workshop on April 7 from 12 to 1:30pm. The virtual event aims to connect female farmers and landowners in Marathon, Portage, Shawano and surrounding counties who are interested in learning more about land stewardship or in sharing their own expertise. All interested women are welcome. The live Zoom will feature a presentation on soil health by Jamie Patton, UW Extension, and Amy Neigum, District Conservationist from Marathon County USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service. Registration is open until April 6 at www.wiwic.org.
The April Zoom event will also feature local Conservation Coaches who will mentor women
landowners who want to learn more about land, water and wildlife stewardship, and sustainable
or regenerative agriculture practices. WiWiC Conservation Coaches include: Rachel Bouressa
of Bouressa Family Farm in New London, Stacey Botsford of Red Door Family Farm in Athens,
Patti Schevers of Schevers Farm outside of Green Bay, and Valerie Dantoin, a organic dairy
farmer from Seymour.
Schevers is the fourth generation on her 100-acre farm, and raises poultry and vegetables,
along with renting 3 “glamper” campsites. “My goal, with support and agreement from my
mother, sister, and aunt is to transition the entire property into native grasses, pollinator habitat,
wildlife corridors, and pond scrapes for waterfowl. The reasoning is to utilize our little ‘block’ of
land to be a place for our family to enjoy and nature to flourish for generations to come,” says
Schevers. “The original farm deed was in my great-grandmother’s name after my great-
grandfather passed in 1922, then transitioned to her son, and then to my father until 1997, when
it returned to women management with my mother. I am proud to be the next generation of
women to steer this property into a completely different future.”
“I believe that as farmers, we have an incredible role and responsibility to be stewards of the
land."
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