McFarlane Manufacturing received the Rural Advocacy Award from the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance. Sauk Prairie School District superintendent Jeff Wright nominated the company due to the role McFarlane’s staff members and leadership have played in expanding the district’s apprenticeship program.
The Rural Advocacy Award is given annually to an individual educator, legislator, business or community leader who has devoted significant time as well as contributed substantial effort to strengthen and preserve rural schools in Wisconsin.
The award is given by the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping address the issues of rural school districts. The annual awards focus statewide attention on individuals, organizations, or businesses who have made outstanding contributions to their rural school district, community, and students.
“We are proud and humbled to receive the WiRSA Advocacy Award,” says Todd Lassanske, McFarlane Mfg. General Manager. “Working with young people is a rewarding privilege. It doesn’t just take a village to support students in our rural community; it takes a team of collaborators. We are lucky to collaborate with our school district, community, parents, students, and also other businesses. Our collaboration and partnerships strengthen our workforce, the WI manufacturing sector, and most importantly, our communities.”
“No business has done more to encourage the growth of our apprenticeship program than McFarlane
Manufacturing, Inc.,” Superintendent Wright shared. “Since hosting its first apprentices several years ago, the team at McFarlanes has become outspoken advocates. Through this advocacy and deep partnership with our school district, McFarlane Manufacturing has helped make Sauk Prairie High School home to more student apprentices than any other high school in CESA 5.”
