
Category Success stories


A Labor of Love: Woodland Restoration
Laura DeGolier is a great example of the diverse kinds of volunteers who can have a significant impact on restoring natural areas throughout the state.…

The Outstanding Vision of a Lady Landowner
By Denise Thornton The view from horseback connects Denise Marino to her land. “It was a dream to have land so I could have my…

The Hustle, Bustle, and Serenity of Summer
Hot and humid—just what the doctor ordered for a growing summer garden. Rain has come to the central Kickapoo Valley a few times this past…

Ancient Prairie in Wisconsin
Thirteen acres of lush green hillside meadow, tucked away in a cool and quiet valley. What a perfect place to spend a Sunday afternoon, slowly…

Messengers Matter
By Steve Swenson, Program Director As a teenager, Peggy Timmerman would have characterized her mother’s interest in nature as over-enthusiastic. Plants individually labelled…

Virtual Field Days Help You Manage for Sustained Wildlife, Environment, and Timber
The Tree Farm Virtual Field Day 2020 was very…2020, AND is now an online treasure of resources for Wisconsin woodland owners who plan to up…

Patience, Creativity, and Hard Work to Realize Restoration Success
Doug Steege and Kris Euclid are owners of a mix of prairie and woodlands straddling the border between Dane and Iowa Counties in the Driftless…

For the Health of the Land
Drawn by the beauty of the land and Peggy’s family history, Jon and Peggy Traver, searched the area in and around Clyde Township in Iowa…

Badgers Defensive Coach Plays Offense on Woods
A successful woodland owner has a good offense and a good defense. On offense, take the initiative to do something! Consider what you’d like the…

Inspired to be Good Stewards
When Dale and Phil Grimm found their land in 1995, it was languishing under the haphazard attention of 20 years of rental farming. Today their…

The Story of One Family’s Forest
For as much as everyone’s woodland is different, the values and the lessons learned are often similar. One Family’s Forest follows a family and the land…

Meet the Winkleplecks: Comfort – Connection – Commitment
“Logan loves playing in the stream. It’s great. For hours he’ll capture tadpoles and other critters,” beams Chad, Logan’s Dad. Chad Winklepleck is living proof…

A Man with a Plan: Dan Fischer
Dan Fischer intended for years to become a more active steward of his 20-acre woodland in northern Richland County. But like many landowners, he found…

It Takes a Village to Care for Land
“This is a family recreational property, but it is highly degraded. It’s for the benefit of wildlife and we want to witness it, but before…

The Kerns Family – A Simple Start
In 1986, Jim and Jody Kerns were newly married, in their 20’s, and looking to invest some savings. On the advice of Jody’s dad, they…

The Nelsons’ Oak Savanna of Dreams
“If you build it, they will come,” said a voice in Ray’s head from the movie Field of Dreams. The voice led Ray to build…

Success Story: John and Kim Annear
Shortly after joining the Richland Center police force 30 years ago, John Annear and his wife Kim started looking for a place in the country…

Meet the Ottmann’s: “Doing the Math” of Ownership
“We wanted a piece of Wisconsin for our family to enjoy. We also intend to make it better.” Barry and Susan Ottmann live in McFarland,…

The Weigandt Story: Little Fancy Creek’s Big Make-Over
The Weigandts learned, if you lead steers to water, they’ll drink. David and Susan Weigandt, Richland County landowners, annually pasture 20-30 head of black angus.…

Managing Trees is Managing an Investment
“Financial viability of our property, the cropland and woodland alike, is important to my siblings and me,” says Doug Duren, a Richland County landowner. His…

Tom and Shaila Bolger
Like so many Wisconsin residents, Tom and Shaila Bolger have always had a love for the outdoors. While making a career in communications throughout Wausau…

Success Story: Cecil and Jan Richardson
Serving as a chaplain in the United States Air Force, Cecil Richardson was on the move for many years – sometimes with Jan, his wife,…

Success Story: Walter and Hattie Crook
Wally and Hattie Crook bought their land nearly 40 years ago. The Crooks lived and worked in Richland Center, Wisconsin, the county seat of Richland…