Dr. Mark Stephenson received the Distinguished Service to Wisconsin Agriculture award for his outstanding contributions to Wisconsin’s agriculture community.
“Dr. Stephenson’s commitment to Wisconsin agriculture has left a mark on our state and its farmers,” says Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation President Brad Olson. “His leadership and passion are testaments to the impact one individual can have in shaping Wisconsin agriculture.”
Stephenson’s lifelong commitment to advancing Wisconsin agriculture has been a defining hallmark of his career and service. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Michigan State University in dairy science. Later, Stephenson earned a second master’s and PhD in agricultural economics from Cornell University.
He has built a distinguished career through a variety of roles at renowned institutions. Stephenson spent three years as a faculty member at UW-River Falls, 17 years as a dairy economist at Cornell University, and served as the Director of Dairy Policy Analysis and the Center for Dairy Profitability at UW-Madison.
Stephenson helped Wisconsin dairy farmers navigate the risk management changes introduced in the 2018 Farm Bill. He traveled extensively across the state to educate farmers about the Dairy Margin Coverage program. In addition, he partnered with Dr. Bob Cropp to launch a podcast focused on dairy markets. Here, he offered farmers a reliable resource to stay informed and make data-driven decisions for their operations.
“Dr. Stephenson’s expertise is known nationally and his relationship with Wisconsin has kept us as America’s Dairyland,” says nominator Dave Daniels.
Though Stephenson has retired, his impact on Wisconsin agriculture and farming communities around the country will continue.
