Join the Wisconsin Custom Operators and U.S. Custom Harvesters for a day of safety training and approaches to managing risk. Farmers, custom operators and anyone interested in incident-reducing practices are encouraged to attend. This event qualifies towards WCO safety certification. Breakfast, lunch and snacks provided!

The Symposium is your chance to connect with WCO and MFA members, industry leaders, extension specialists, and researchers from across the Midwest. Join us in 2026 at the Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.

By Maria Woldt for WCO

As we head into the winter meeting season, WCO is gearing up for two major events that you won’t want to miss — the Forage Symposium and the WCO Safety Training and Certification event, April 9 in Arlington. Both events promise valuable networking and practical information you can take home to your business.

I hope everyone had a safe and bountiful harvest season. As we wrap up another busy fall, it’s encouraging to see that, for the most part, the weather was on our side. Harvesting was completed on time across the region, and the results of a productive growing season are now in storage or on their way to market. While the combines and choppers may be parked, our colleagues on the manure hauling side are still hard at work, nourishing next year’s crop and helping ensure another successful season ahead.

By Maria Woldt and Brittany Marquard

Twenty-two students successfully completed the 2025 Tractor and Farm Safety Certificate Program hosted by the Food + Farm Exploration Center (F+FEC) in Plover, Wisconsin. The five-day course, led by F+FEC Education Program Manager Brittany Marquard, provided essential training in the safe operation of farm machinery and raised awareness of potential hazards to help prevent accidents and save lives.