Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers (WSBDF)

Emphasizing Business Planning and Pasture-Based Farm Management

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Meet Former Students: Sarah Mumm

Sarah Mumm grew up on a farm where her dad worked as a herdsman until he quit his job when she was in 8th grade. In the years that followed, Sarah missed farming, so as soon as she got her drivers license, she got a job milking cows at a 200 cow jersey farm where she worked through college. From there she went on to take short course and the Pasture-Based Dairy and Livestock seminar, because, in her words, “I knew that ‘when I grew up’ I wanted to farm in some way, some shape, somehow.”

After finishing short course, she did an internship through WSBDF with a 600 cow dairy in Elkhorn, WI, and after that she landed a job as an assistant herdsperson at a 1000 cow dairy in Lancaster, WI. “The internship and all of the knowledge and responsibility that I gained from that experience worked hand in hand getting that job. It really helped me go forward,” Sarah said.

Sarah Mumm in 2007, in the first years of running her own farm
Sarah Mumm in 2007, in the first years of running her own farm

As much as she liked the job on the large dairy, Sarah still had a strong urge to run her own farm and be her own boss, so after a year, she decided to jump into farming on her own. Describing the experience, she says, “I found an opening at a 60-cow barn in Platteville. The rent was right, the time was right; so that’s when I went to the FSA office and talked to them about getting a loan to start farming… I had to go into a lot of debt and purchase a lot of animals which is always a huge risk, but that’s where I started.”

In the year that followed, she became engaged to Joe Mumm, a man she met at the dairy that she worked at in Lancaster. Together, they decided to move to the family farm where Joe grew up. Joe stayed employed at the larger dairy, and they got their own farm up and running. This was in 2006, and they are still there today, with two additions to the family, Mitchell and Vincent, pictured below. They milk 50 cows and sell to Rolling Hills Milk Cooperative.

The Mumm family (Sarah and Joe with sons Mitchell and Vincent)
The Mumm family (Sarah and Joe with sons Mitchell and Vincent)

Sarah’s story is a testament to the fact that young people can and do make it in farming. “My advice to the students of the Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers is to be a sponge and absorb as much as you can before you start because there are so many ways to farm. I don’t think any way is impossible as long as you want to give it a lot of effort and try.”

Support WSBDF:

Support WSBDF

The support of our many sponsors is what makes our work possible. Click the logo above to learn more about how you can support WSBDF.

Student Testimonials

“The business plan put it all into reality. It gave me confidence."

"We came away with a barn-full of inspiration, and the solid ground-under-our-feet feeling of having been shown 'how it is' with all the beauty and the sweat right there."

"I'm by nature a cynic who doesn't often run into programs, meetings, or groups that truly embody optimism and change, but WSBDF manages to accomplish that in a humble and practical way."

“You have the opportunity to make lifelong friends; you have so many people there that have the same interests and the same drive.”

"The quality and depth of the presenters for the WSBDF has given our family a top notch how-to manual for entering into a grazing based business and life."

“The School opened my eyes up to a different direction of farming that has worked out very well for me. WSBDF was very important in my decision to start a grass-based dairy farm.”

“The School made me think outside of the box…and look at the many ways to approach a farm business.”

“I really enjoyed all the speakers we had and all the real life experiences they were able to share.”

"I can sincerely say that the WSBDF course was everything I had hoped for, and then some. I met a lot of great people, learned an incredible amount, and came out of the experience feeling inspired"

“My fears were primarily financial. The WSBDF showed me that there were different institutions…to loan me money and that is what really got me started."

“I took the grazing courses [with WSBDF]…and this is the best crash course I’m ever going to get.”

“The most beneficial thing by far was…the network of people I met – classmates and mentors – that are actively farming…to learn from what they are doing and compare [these things] to what I’m doing.”

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Read more about

  • Pasture Management Course Now Available Online!
  • Now Available Online!
  • Learning from the Experts
  • A Business Planning Emphasis

Ride to Farm

Link to Ride to Farm Website

Each year the WSBDF hosts Ride to Farm, a 100K bike ride with rest stops at local farms. All proceeds from this amazing event support the WSBDF endowment. Click the Ride to Farm logo above to learn more.

Barn Dance

Barn Dance

The Partnering for Progress’s Barn Dance & Chautauqua celebrates Wisconsin’s working lands, and raises funds to support the important work of the nonprofit partner organizations, including WSBDF. And it's a lot of fun! Click on the image above to learn more!

WSBDF

Sponsored by the UW-Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems and the Farm and Industry Short Course, both within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; and by Badgerland Financial, Culver’s Restaurants, Organic Valley, Wisconsin Cattleman’s Association, Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, and Wisconsin Farmers Union; with additional support from the NIFA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program and individual and corporate contributions to the UW Foundation WSBDF Endowment Fund. A full list of each year's contributors is available in our newsletter, available through the link below:

2018 Newsletter

Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers

The WSBDF office is located in the Soil Science Building on the University of Wisconsin-Madison Campus.

Mailing Address:

1535 Observatory Drive
Madison, WI 53706

Phone:

608-265-6437

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