Contact: Rep. Don Vruwink, 608-449-5121
Volunteers for Agriculture, the political action arm of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, endorsed Rep. Don Vruwink for re-election to the Wisconsin Assembly.
“Don has always understood the challenges facing family farmers and the agricultural industry as a whole,” said Rob Richard, senior director of governmental relations for the Farm Bureau. “He grew up on a farm, he worked on three family farms to earn his way through college, and he continues to be in regular contact with farmers in his district.”
Rep. Vruwink was recently appointed to the Governor’s Dairy Task Force 2.0, which is charged with studying Wisconsin’s dairy industry and making recommendations for actions needed to make it remain strong and vibrant.
As a member of the Assembly Agriculture Committee, Vruwink led committee members on a tour of three farms in his district last June: Rebout Dairy, Townson Holsteins, & Amazing Grace Family Farm.
He brought six Assembly Democrats to visit the farm where he grew up near Wisconsin Rapids. His cousin Philip Vruwink now farms 1,000 acres and milks 120 dairy cows there.
Rep. Vruwink accompanied members of the Agriculture Committee on three other farm tours in Rock, Green, Sauk and Milwaukee counties. The Milwaukee tour featured urban agriculture.
During the last legislative session, Rep. Vruwink co-authored a package of bills to expand high-speed Internet in rural areas so that farms and other businesses can stay competitive.
Rep. Vruwink also introduced a bill to provide technical expertise and start-up capital to non-traditional agricultural operations to help farmers diversify. In the coming session, he plans to introduce the “Next Generation Act,” which will include the agriculture diversity bill, as well as bills relating to handing down farms to future generations and student loan forgiveness.
