Brussels crop farmer Michael Vandenhouten feels it is important for those in agriculture to get involved on the local level and talk with those that are not. Farmers on committees dealing with land and water conservation efforts are nothing new for Door and Kewaunee counties. Vandenhouten has served on the Door County Land Conservation Committee for several years as a Farm Service Agency appointee. In Kewaunee County, Aaron Augustian and Nick Guilette serve on the Land and Water Conservation Committee that was formerly chaired by the late John Pagel. Vandenhouten’s role as one of the three Farm Service Agency representatives in Door County is to make sure government programs are implemented correctly for agriculture. He feels being able to give an agriculture perspective on that level is important because of the disconnect between farmers and residents living in more urban areas.

Vandenhouten appreciates people who come out to their meetings to speak about the concerns so the dialogue can occur. He says that is especially important since many farmers believe there are too many regulations, while those living in more urban areas think there are not enough. The Kewaunee County Land and Water Conservation Committee meets on the second Tuesday of each month, while the Door County Land Conservation Committee usually gathers on the second Thursday of each month.

Picture courtesy of Peninsula Pride Farms