As a former Earth Team volunteer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Wisconsin, Melanie Kalmerton always dreamed of having a countryside garden. With assistance from the NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Melanie went from conservation volunteer to flourishing flower farmer by transforming her modest acreage into a blossoming business.

Growing up as his father’s casual farmhand in the Milwaukee River Watershed, Dan Zuehlke had always accepted the traditional farming methods passed down from the generations who came before him. But one evening, Dan made an observation that began his deep dive into soil health, discovering what’s in the soil, and almost more importantly, what's not in the soil.

Kinnard Farms is the first in the nation to have a denitrifying bioreactor and a Phosphorus Removal System built in-line on the same tile system within a field through GLRI-EQIP funding. Written by NRCS affiliate Whitney Prestby, Natural Resources Educator — UW-Madison Division of Extension Natural Resources Institute

With technical and financial assistance from Wisconsin NRCS, Dave and Penny Russell found alternative ways to sustainably utilize their cropland and resources long term, while benefitted their goals, their bottom line, and the wildlife who call it home.

Before purchasing farmland in 2017, Information Technology (IT) professional, Chor Lee, had never farmed. The property included several acres of forest and cropland and a plethora of weeds growing out of control, but did not include electricity, running water, or any agricultural equipment. Learn more about how Chor cultivated his skills and knowledge for growing culturally significant produce and helps educate and inspire other farmers interested in adopting an “off-grid” solar energy system to power their small-scale growing operations. 

While Waupaca grazier, Richard Nelson, received invaluable mentorship from experienced neighboring farmers, Rheta and Arthur Richardson, he has also fostered a future conservationist in his daughter, NRCS Earth Team volunteer and aspiring NRCS employee, Rylee. Learn more about how the Nelson family implemented their “win-win” grazing management plan through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and how they took their soil health goals to the next level with the Conservation Stewardship Program.

Successes from the Field featuring Jean Kursave, NRCS Wisconsin civil engineer technician, dedicated conservationist, and committed land steward.

Instilled with commitment to land stewardship, the next generation of Kane Dairy farmers set out to take their parent’s vision for helping the family land reach new conservation levels with financial and technical assistance from NRCS programs.

After attending a Pollinator Field Day event, Leslie Meyer of Hideaway Farm decided to “bring back the balance of nature and give something back” by converting fourteen acres of her land to a native prairie planting habitat for pollinators and wildlife with help from her local NRCS service center.

Preserving the legacy of the land with consideration for the community through conservation practices, Highland Farm sets out to organically revitalize their ridgetop farming operation.

Wisconsin natural resource agencies team up to restore an Oconto County family forestland after an “inland hurricane” threatens 5 generations of dedicated forest management with assistance from the Natural Resources Conservation Service Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

Former Wisconsin DNR Forestry Technician, Roy Gilge, partnered with NRCS to overcome a persistent roadblock, with help from his family, friends, and 5 different practices funded by the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, allowing for more successful forest management.

Since Matt Wilson, a veteran and beginner farmer, partnered with the Natural Resources Conservation Service through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to expand his growing season, he has paid that knowledge forward by hosting educational opportunities for other beginner landowners.

Life-long farmer James “Jimmy” Bloome, teamed up with NRCS through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to bring his farm leaps and bounds with conservation practices.

Brothers Mark and Joe Van Asten pay it forward with the knowledge and practices gathered from a long-time partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and receive well-deserved congressional accolades as demonstration farm ‘ambassadors’ for Wisconsin.

The love of learning and their family land led Vernon County’s Pamela and Alan Seelow to organic certification and setting up their family farm successors for continued success.

Brothers, Bill and Tom Roth continue a farming legacy of tried-and-true conservation practices instilled by their father and nurtured by their college professor.

Implementing the construction of conservation plan recommendations funded by NRCS cost-share programs for neighboring landowners gave jack-of-all-trade brothers, Eric and Chris Hammell, first-hand knowledge to pursue assistance for their own farm improvements.

Oneida Nation uses reacquisition of indigenous land to make major improvements to water quality in critically contaminated Wisconsin watersheds.

In the true spirit of Community Supported Agriculture, Mike and Jodi Lenz’s veggie farm produces impressive yields in conservation, community benefits, and educational comradery with assistance from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

Led by Calumet County landowner, Marvin Thiel, a neighborhood comes together in mission during times of social distance to rehabilitate a shared watershed with the help of the NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

With the help of the Conservation Stewardship Program, Barron County landowner Terry Elwood, turns his diverse Moose Ear Creek acreage into a habitat haven for pollinators and wildlife.

With the help of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Cathy Bleser and Dan Krunnfusz of Iowa County extend their passion for conservation stewardship on their remote Driftless Area property, affectionately nicknaming the oak trees they have worked to restore.

With the help of NRCS and through the Conservation Stewardship Program, retired Department of Natural Resources Engineer, James Crawford, and his wife Carol turned a Brown County derelict dairy farm into the ‘bee’s knees’ for pollinators to thrive.

Determined to restore her land to its original state, Carol Eloranta enrolled in the Conservation Stewardship Program to help create a thriving habitat for a range of diverse species and pollinator plants.

Experimenting with on-field solutions to reduce cost of input for producers, Jody Wilhelm’s efforts on her Chippewa County farm have naturally supported existing conservation practices. Thanks to EQIP, Jody has been able to seed cover crops for ongoing evaluation and analysis.

Laurie Fortuna, 4th generation landowner, and her husband Larry make soil health their main mission on their 500-acre dairy farm.

Passionate about conservation and wildlife, Randy Paff set out to “wholistically” manage 230 acres of woodlands and found success with financial and technical assistance from several NRCS programs.

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program gave distinguished sheep grazer and grazing mentor, Barbara Salas, the resources to manage her land in a way that allows both agricultural production and wildlife diversity to coexist and thrive.

Legacy land stewards, John and Barb Floyd, honor the conservation ethics passed on by John’s parents, while continuing the work to leave their land even better for the next generation through the Conservation Stewardship Program.

From learning-by-doing to shining example, father-and-son farming team Roger and Brian Karrels joined the Ozaukee Demonstration Farm Network in showcasing what conservation practices and welcoming vital pollinators can do for soil health and crop yields.

Inspired by the history of the land he stewards and driven by his desire to connect more deeply with his family’s traditional cultural relationships with the land, Damian Vraniak has worked for the past 30 years to restore the savanna and prairie land once owned by his grandfather.

Wisconsin conservation partners celebrate a groundbreaking easement closing through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. The 64-acre easement, owned by David and Heather Lettow, contains prime and unique farmland soils, maple-beech woodland, wooded wetland, and a meandering section of Kewaskum Creek, a tributary of the Milwaukee River, which drains into Lake Michigan. 

With almost a decade of focus on regenerative agriculture under their green thumbs, Mat & Dani of Boerson Farm utilized the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to build seasonal high tunnels that support a more abundant growing season for their Community Supported Agriculture operation.

For over 30 years, Gary and Penny Shackelford have been compiling a personalized “cookbook” of conservation practices with help from the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) in hopes to pass their not-so-secret recipes for conservation on to the future stewards of the land.