The Wisconsin Farmers Union backs the appointment of Julie Lassa as state director of Rural Development and Eugene Schriefer as the state executive director for the Farm Service Agency.
Schreifer has experience with UW-Extension, grazing networks and youth. Lassa’s background is in dairying, civic engagement, economic development, and small business and local food promotion.
“Farmers Union members have been particularly interested in seeing investment in critical infrastructure like meat processing, transportation, local food systems, and rural broadband,” says WFU President Darin Von Ruden (pictured). “We hope to see these new leaders work with pandemic recovery funds and federal opportunities to move forward issues that will legitimately help rural Main Street and family farms.”
The White House expressed that these roles will be critical to efforts to rebuild communities most impacted by the pandemic and climate change.
