News and Events

In addition to scholarships and other awards, WCO has a mini-grant program designed to provide smaller, more flexible awards to assist with important projects or programs that will benefit the custom farming community and the ag community. 

The WCO board feels strongly that it is important to invest in great people and innovative ideas. To learn more about the mini-grant program and to download the application, go to wiscustomoperators.org and click the “about us” tab. 

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and awards range from $500-$5,000. Funding is available as soon as the application is approved by WCO. Funds are distributed as follows: 50% upon application approval and 50% upon receipt of final report.

Like most grants, there are reporting  obligations and we also ask that recipients be willing to speak about their project at a WCO event such as the annual Forage Symposium.

Priority is given to projects that:

>>Directly benefit the custom farming community

>>Involve custom farmers or clients of custom farmers

>>Involve post-secondary student research or organization opportunities

>>Emphasize farm safety and health, leadership, teamwork, sustainability, innovation or community involvement

This program is open to university/technical college faculty, staff, students, student organizations or non-profit organizations. Others deemed appropriate by the WCO Scholarship and Awards Committee will also be considered.

Examples include: Funding for students as part of larger project, costs associated with hosting an event or farmer meeting, incentive funds for farmers/custom farmers to try new practices.

Questions? Call (608) 577-4345 or email execdir@wiscustomoperators.org