Mary Holle is the new program manager for the Farm and Industry Short Course at UW-River Falls, beginning a new chapter for the historic program. Holle is a Baldwin-based farmer and long-time dairy judging coach.
The FISC program is designed to provide intensive, hands-on training for the next generation of agricultural professionals. Holle, who operates a 480-acre farm with 50 registered Holsteins alongside her husband, brings a “boots-on-the-ground” perspective to the position. Her immediate goals include increasing program visibility and streamlining the application process.
“I think part of its biggest issue is really acknowledgement that yes, it did move and this is how you guys can find us,” she tells Mid-West Farm Report regarding her initial priorities. “I’m going to try to get at multiple different events… and really get our name out there. I looking forward to being the face for that.”
A defining feature of the FISC at UWRF is its immersion in real-world practice. Students spend roughly 80 percent of their time at the Mann Valley Lab Farm, learning from active industry professionals such as nutritionists rather than traditional professors. This focus pairs with a unique 16-week schedule that runs from late October to March. The schedule allows students to pursue their education during the agricultural “off-season” without missing the spring planting or fall harvest windows.
Looking ahead to the 2026-27 academic year, Holle plans to expand the curriculum beyond its current dairy focus. The roadmap includes adding electives in business, horticulture, agronomy, and soil science to attract a broader range of students. She also intends to reconnect with the program’s extensive alumni base to create new mentorship and networking opportunities.
“My hope is to give them the connections and the resources that when they do go home, they can better make an educated decision on how to manage and potentially transition into taking over that home farm,” she says.
Prospective students can expect a revamped website and application portal to launch by the end of this summer. In the meantime, direct questions here: [email protected].
