Grazing Specialists
Grazing Specialists are here to help you get started grazing and/or improve your grazing practices.
Because Managed Grazing provides so many environmental services, state and federal agencies charged with protecting natural resources have grazing specialists on staff to assist farmers who are interested in improving their pasture management. Federal grazing specialists at Natural Resources Conservation Services (USDA-NRCS), for example, operate locally in every state and it is their job to provide farmers with free technical assistance. They are available to visit pastures, make recommendations and help create a blueprint for seeding, fencing, waterlines and lanes. They answer questions, provide support and are invaluable sources of information about managing pasture and livestock for optimum production and profit. Be sure to ask your NRCS agent about cost sharing available for implementing and improving rotational grazing systems under the "managed grazing 528 practice standard."
- USDA-NRCS
- County Land Conservation Departments
- Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council
- Private Consultants
- Non-Profit Organization
Grazing Specialists Statewide
NRCS
Statewide: Adam Abel, State Grazing Specialist, (715) 467‐1037 adam.abel@wi.usda.gov
Northwest: Brian Briski, (715) 701‐2960 brian.briski@usda.gov
Southwest: Brian Hillers, (608) 219‐7344 brian.hillers@usda.gov
Southeast: Thelma Heidel-Baker, (262) 622-2109 thelma.heidelbaker@usda.gov
Central-west: Josh Odekirk, (262) 470‐2064 josh.odekirk@usda.gov
Central-east: Derrick Raspor, (920) 740-5810 derrick.raspor@usda.gov
County
Columbia: Todd Rietmann, (608) 742-9675 todd.rietmann@co.columbia.wi.us
Dane: Marie Raboin, (608-630-3325) raboin.marie@countyofdane.com
Marathon: Bill Kolodziej, (715) 581-1125 william.Kolodziej@co.marathon.wi.us
Sauk: Serge Koenig, serge.koenig@saukcountywi.gov
Vernon: Ben Wojahn, (608) 637-5482 or Jim Munsch (608) 637-5480 jmunsch@mwt.net
UW Extension
Gene Schriefer, Dodgeville (608) 930-9850 gene.schriefer@wisc.edu
Randy Zogbaum, Madison randy.zogbaum@wisc.edu
Dr. Yoana Newman, UW-River Falls yoana.newman@uwrf.edu
Resource Conservations & Development Councils (RC&Ds)
Glacierland RC&D: (920) 465-3006
Golden Sands RC&D: (715) 343-6215
River Country RC&D: (715) 579-4916
Technical Service Providers
Rachel Bouressa, New London, WI: rachel.bouressa@goldensandsrcd.org
Michael Gehl, Hartford, WI: (262) 689-6689 mikegehl3@gmail.com
Randy Gilbertson, Shell Lake, WI: burroaks12@centurytel.net
Kelly Jacobs, Fall Creek, WI: kelly.Jacobs@weswi.com
Lynn Johnson, Turtle Lake, WI: (715) 225-9882, lynnjohnson@amerytel.net
Marie Raboin, Barneveld, WI: (608-630-3325) raboin.marie@countyofdane.com
Haly Schultz, Neillsville: hb28_uwrf@yahoo.com
Wally Sedlar, Fremont, WI: wallysedlar@live.com
Grazing Network Coordinators
Northwest Graziers: Lynn Johnson (715) 225-9882, lynnjohnson@amerytel.net
Southeast WI Graziers: Kirsten Jurcek (920) 342-9504, kjurcek1@centurytel.net
Southwest WI Graziers: Gene Schriefer (608) 930-9850, gene.schriefer@wisc.edu
Central Wisconsin River Graziers: Bill Kolodziej (715) 261-6038, william.kolodziej@co.marathon.wi.us
Great River Graziers Network: Vance Haugen (608) 326-0223, vjhaugen@gmail.com
Coulee Graziers Network: Jamie Pfaff (715) 284-4257 ext 4, jamie.pfaff@wisc.edu
or Steve Kling (715) 662-5053
River Country Grazing Network: Linda Luberda (715) 579-4916, linda@rivercountryrcd.org
or Kevin Mahalko (715) 225-9879, kevin.mahalko@yahoo.com
Columbia-Dodge-Sauk Grazing Network: George Koepp (608) 742-9682, george.koepp@wisc.edu or Todd Rietmann todd.rietmann@co.columbia.wi.us or
Serge Koening (608) 355-4837, serge.koenig@saucountywi.gov
Central Wisco Graziers Network: Derrick Raspor (920) 740-5810, derrick.raspor@usda.gov
or Rachel Bouressa (608) 228-6617, rachel.bouressa@gldensandsrcd.org- see the Grazing Networks page for more information: https://grassworks.org/resources/grazing-networks/
Additional Resources
Northeast: Aaron Pape, Northeast Technical College, aaron.pape@nwtc.edu
Northwest: Robert Brandt, 715-965-6771 grazingbob@gmail.com
Southwest: Cherrie Nolden: multi-species grazing experience, wonderacres@yahoo.com
Statewide: Mary C. Anderson, WI DNR, (715) 579-2206 maryC2.Anderson@wisconsin.gov