Almost as fast as their crops, the number of producer-led watershed groups like Peninsula Pride Farms is growing. The number of producer-led groups receiving grants from the state of Wisconsin has grown from fourteen in 2015 to 27 in 2019. The groups have been able to turn those dollars into ways to reduce or even prevent farm field runoff from affecting area water sources. Peninsula Pride Farms was able to borrow a few pages from the Yahara Pride Farms playbook when they first started and now other groups are doing the same with them. Don Niles says while sharing ideas with groups across the state is important, farmers have to remember the change has to occur on a local level.
Niles says much of the support they give to newer groups relates to how to recruit farmers and keep them engaged with their practices. Peninsula Pride Farms will host their annual meeting on February 13th at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds Exposition Hall.