WCO members elect directors, new officers, retiring directors honored

Back row from left: Randy Clark, Isaac Lemmenes, Pat Johnson, Bruce Dannenberg. Front row from left: Maria Woldt, Jeremy Heim, John Osterhaus

Pat Johnson was re-elected to a second term on the board, while Bruce Dannenberg is a new addition.

Johnson is the operations manager of Larson Acres in Evansville. This multi-generation farm milks 2,800 cows and farms more than 5,000 acres. He also has experience as a custom manure hauler and business owner. Public perception of agriculture, especially manure application, is very important to Johnson. He is also passionate about helping younger people enter the custom farming industry because there are often fewer barriers to entry than traditional farming for someone without a family farm connection. Johnson and his wife have two children and raise and direct market beef.

Dannenberg is co-owner of Triple D Farms in Mineral Point. He manages crops for the 2,000-acre farm along with spraying and spreading applications. He oversees business finance and insurance, and custom TMR feeding for a local dairy. When needed, he drives chopper, truck, and pack tractor for harvest. Dannenberg also handles most of the combine work for soybean harvesting while the rest of the crew is finishing up silage harvest. Outside of farming, he and his family enjoy showing pigs and are active in the Badger State Tractor Pullers.

Officers were selected by the WCO board of directors. John Osterhaus, owner of Silver Streak AG Services in Chadwick, Ill. will serve as president and Jeremy Heim, co-owner of Heim Brothers Custom in Kewaunee as vice-president. Randy Clark, owner of RCI Engineering in Mayville was elected as secretary and Isaac Lemmenes, product specialist for Nuhn Industries, was re-elected treasurer.

Osterhaus owns Silver Streak AG Services in Chadwick, Ill. with his wife, Monica. Together, they harvest 5,000 acres annually in Northwest Illinois and sell and service Meyer Manufacturing equipment. In addition to WCO, he is an active member US Custom Harvesters. The Osterhaus’ have three grown children, including a son, Alan, who has continued his passion for agriculture as a marketing specialist for CLAAS of America. Two of their children have been awarded WCO scholarships.

Heim is co-owner of Heim Brothers Custom in Kewaunee, a 200-million gallon per year custom manure hauling and chopping business. In addition to the custom business, Heim is co-owner of an 850-cow dairy, Heim’s Hillcrest Dairy. Together with this wife Kari, Heim has two kids, Ben (19) and Kiley (28). Kiley has been working full time on the farm since 2013 focusing on calf care and Ben plays a big role in field work and the custom business.

Clark is the owner of RCI Engineering in Mayville, where he designs and manufactures equipment solutions for the hay and forage industry, including plot research equipment and the Ag-Bag product line. In addition to WCO, he is involved with Wisconsin Section of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, Midwest Forage Association, and other industry groups. Clark credits his wife, Wendy, for his success in business and in life. The two work together at RCI Engineering where Wendy serves as marketing manager. They have three boys, Ryan (16), Isaac (14) and Colin (11) and enjoy snowmobiling, hunting, and whatever adventures the boys want to seek out.

Retiring board member and former president William Smith, owner of Smith Custom Farming LLC in Darlington was honored for his years of service to WCO.

About WCO: WCO is an organization comprised of individuals throughout the state who derive their income in whole or part from providing custom farming services. To learn more about the Wisconsin Custom Operators, Inc. including membership and event registration, go to www.wiscustomoperators.org or info@wiscustomoperators.org