WISCONSIN DELLS – On December 8, Dr. Mark Stephenson received the Distinguished Service to Wisconsin Agriculture award for his outstanding contributions to Wisconsin’s agriculture community during the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s 105th Annual Meeting in Wisconsin Dells on December 8.
“Dr. Stephenson’s commitment to Wisconsin agriculture has left a mark on our state and its farmers,” said Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation President Brad Olson. “His leadership and passion are testaments to the impact one individual can have in shaping Wisconsin agriculture.”
Dr. Stephenson’s lifelong commitment to advancing Wisconsin agriculture has been a defining hallmark of his career and service. Dr. Stephenson received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Michigan State University in dairy science and later, a second master’s and PhD in agricultural economics from Cornell University.
Dr. Stephenson has built a distinguished career through a variety of roles at renowned institutions. He spent three years as a faculty member at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, 17 years as a dairy economist at Cornell University and served as the Director of Dairy Policy Analysis and the Center for Dairy Profitability at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Throughout these positions, Dr. Stephenson demonstrated exceptional leadership in education and research focused on dairy policy and market analysis and made significant contributions to the dairy industry.
Dr. Stephenson played a crucial role in helping Wisconsin dairy farmers navigate the risk management changes introduced in the 2018 Farm Bill. He traveled extensively across the state to educate farmers about the Dairy Margin Coverage program, providing practical insights on how it could be utilized effectively for risk management. In addition, he partnered with Dr. Bob Cropp to launch a podcast focused on dairy markets, offering farmers a reliable resource to stay informed and make data-driven decisions for their operations.
“Dr. Stephenson’s expertise is known nationally and his relationship with Wisconsin has kept us as America’s Dairyland,” said nominator and Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation Board member Dave Daniels.
Though Dr. Stephenson has retired, his impact on Wisconsin agriculture and farming communities around the country will continue on.
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