Meet the Candidates: Faith Baerwolf - Trying New Things Through my Adventures in Agriculture

I have learned many valuable skills while growing up on my family’s dairy farm in Columbus; however, the most important lesson I learned that still guides me through life today is to always try new things.

The day I decided to start showing sheep at the county fair changed everything. I had shown dairy every year, but I knew I wanted to try something new. Some of my neighbors showed sheep and mentioned how fun it was, and I thought I would give it a try. I’d never done it before, but that just made it all the more interesting. Once I convinced my family to let me raise sheep for the next year’s fair, I found out how much I truly had to learn. The idea of showing an animal in the ring without a halter was completely new to me. I learned a lot during my first year. I also made great connections and continued my sheep project for many years. I even got to travel around the state and country for different shows!

I also enjoyed being on my county’s 4-H dairy judging team, but based on my sheep showing experience, I decided I wanted to expand my knowledge and try more new things! I joined the meat judging team. This was a totally new experience, but evaluating an animal for its meat characteristics proved incredibly challenging. I studied flashcards of different meat cuts and classes every day and the hard work paid off. My team did well in state and national competitions.

My “try new things” mentality became part of every aspect of my life. It led me to study abroad in Ireland for a semester. Despite never traveling outside of the country before, I knew I needed to explore the world. This turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life. I made lasting friendships and learned about the global agricultural industry.

Trying new things also led me to apply to become the 79th Alice in Dairyland. Throughout my life, I have grown in agriculture and developed a passion for educating others about Wisconsin’s agricultural industry. Trying new things is exactly what Alice in Dairyland does and encourages by traveling throughout our state, nation, and world to help share the wonders of Wisconsin agriculture.

I have no doubt that I will continue to try new things. Wisconsin’s diverse agricultural industry is one of our greatest strengths. While we are known for nutritious dairy products and award-winning cheeses, we are also national leaders in producing ginseng, cranberries, snap beans, potatoes, and more. Not only does this mean there are many different agricultural adventures you can be part of, but you can always try something new!