AFT Statement on the Loss of Wisconsin Secretary of Agriculture Rod Nilsestuen

American Farmland Trust Statement on the Loss of Wisconsin Secretary of Agriculture Rod Nilsestuen

CONTACT:

Jennifer Morrill: 301-792-6238 (cell), jmorrill@farmland.org

Washington, D.C., July 22, 2010 —The untimely drowning death this week of Wisconsin Secretary of Agriculture Rod Nilsestuen is a loss to all of those in the farmland protection movement.

Nilsestuen, born of Norwegian dairy farmer stock in southwestern Wisconsin, was at the forefront of efforts to preserve working lands in Wisconsin. As agriculture secretary, he initiated the discussions that led to adoption of Wisconsin’s Working Lands Initiative in 2009. He worked closely with American Farmland Trust (AFT) and other groups to add new tools like purchase of agriculture conservation easements to the state’s farmland protection program.

“Rod worked tirelessly to protect Wisconsin’s working lands, and the successful passage of the Working Lands Initiative by the state Legislature is a legacy to his efforts,” said Tom Lyon, a former AFT board member and another leader in the Wisconsin farmland protection effort. “He’ll be missed greatly, but he accomplished much in his life.”

AFT President Jon Scholl added, “Rod had such optimism and energy about the future of agriculture in Wisconsin, and indeed throughout the United States. He was able to help others capture that vision and come together to accomplish great things for farmers and consumers, and the working lands and natural resources. We hold the Nilsestuen family and his colleagues and friends in our thoughts and prayers.”

Nilsestuen, 62, was agriculture secretary since 2003. Prior to that he was a longtime leader in the rural cooperative movement. He drowned in Lake Superior, Wednesday, July 21, near Marquette, MI., where he and his wife, Carol, were volunteering on a Habitat for Humanity project.

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American Farmland Trust is the nation’s leading conservation organization dedicated to saving America’s farm and ranch land, promoting environmentally sound farming practices and supporting a sustainable future for farms. Since its founding in 1980 by a group of farmers and citizens concerned about the rapid loss of farmland to development, AFT has helped save millions of acres of farmland from development and led the way for the adoption of conservation practices on millions more.

AFT’s national office is located in Washington, DC. Phone: 202-331-7300. For more information, visit www.farmland.org.