Hello everyone, I am Stephanie Plaster the new Extension Farm Management Outreach Specialist.  The Farm Management Outreach Specialist position is a new, exciting position in the UW–Madison Division of Extension.  This position will identify needs and provide outreach education to find solutions to the most critical issues facing Wisconsin agricultural producers in the areas of farm financial and strategic business management including:  

• Identifying and evaluating opportunities for agricultural businesses to meet their mission and goals and enhance their competitive position.  
• Identifying challenges to these opportunities resulting from variability of prices received, access to new markets, prices of inputs, and new technologies and practices affecting both yield and quality. 

Whether beginning, early career, or established commodity or specialty crop operations are looking to grow, transition, or diversify their enterprises or invest in new ideas or technology, successful businesses utilize strategic business information, resources, and tools to make informed decisions.   

So, how did I find myself in this awesome new position?  I grew up in Cedarburg, Wisconsin on a ranchette where we raised horses and hunting dogs and then went to UW-Madison where I received a BS in International Agriculture and Natural Resources focusing on Animal and Dairy Science.  While at Madison, I worked at the US Dairy Forage Research Center, competed at the National Meat Animal Evaluation Competition, researched feedlot steer welfare, and studied dairying systems in Mexico.  I then completed a Master of Agriculture from Colorado State University in Integrated Resource Management where I worked with beef and sheep grazing and feedlot systems.  After graduating, I came back to Wisconsin and worked at an urban aquaponic farm with both non-profit and for-profit entities. 

I joined Extension in 2013 as the Langlade County Agriculture Agent where I ran the Langlade Potato Research Station. I transferred to Southeast Wisconsin where much of my family is to become the Ozaukee/Washington Agriculture Educator and Regional Farm Management Educator for Ozaukee, Washington, Fond du Lac, and Sheboygan Counties.   Throughout my career in Extension, I have focused on improving business development and transition skills to help folks make better, stronger decisions which enhance their business vitality and sustainability.  You might remember me from my presentation at the Cranberry Virtual Brown Bag in February 2021.   

I started this new role as a state outreach specialist on May 16th.  In this role, my work will add value to that of partner organizations and community members through collaborations to develop and deliver educational programs for ag commodity and specialty crop industries across Wisconsin. I’m looking forward to meeting you at the Summer Field Day at the Wisconsin Cranberry Research Station.  Please feel free to contact me directly via email at stephanie.plaster@wisc.edu or phone 262-277-6809 (call/text).  My office is located at the Extension Ozaukee County office at 121 W Main St in Port Washington.   Learn more about my work at https://farms.extension.wisc.edu/author/plaster/  

This article was posted in Other News and Resources and tagged Cranberries, Extension Farm Management Outreach Specialist, Stephanie Plaster, UW–Madison Division of Extension.