Meet Our Staff
Beth Gehred, Program Coordinator. Beth co-founded the non-profit citizen grassroots organizations Heart of the City and Sustain Jefferson. These two organizations introduced The Natural Step framework for sustainable development to Jefferson County. Beth is committed to increasing the impact TACRCD has on restoring the environment while building social and economic capital. She serves on the steering committee of Slow Money Wisconsin, and is program assistant to the Water Star Wisconsin program.
A book that has captured Beth's attention lately is Steven Johnson's Future Perfect.
The most fun part of Beth's job is hearing people's ideas for new programs that conserve our natural resources while increasing the self-sufficiency of our counties, and helping move the ideas forward toward realization. Call Beth if you have one of those special ideas, or just to talk about solutions-based change and the awesomeness of the world. Beth can be reached at 920-541-3208.
Kirsten Jurcek, Grazing Education Specialist
Raising livestock on grass is a business that meets the ‘triple bottle line’ of economic, social, and environmental benefits. Grazing offers a profitable, low capital business model that opens new opportunities for livestock producers. Grass-fed meats and dairy provide health benefits for consumers. And green pastures benefit our soil, our climate, and our water resources. Town and Country Resource Conservation and Development, Inc, supports grass-based livestock enterprises through our grazing assistance program, and we’re pleased to introduce our newest team member: grazing education specialist Kirsten Jurcek.
Kirsten’s passions in life are clean water, healthy food, and family farm preservation. She manages a 100% grass-fed cow/calf beef operation near Palmyra and markets her products locally. Also an experienced hydrogeologist, she can articulate the linkage between permanent pasture and clean lakes and streams. Kirsten will direct outreach and education for producers and consumers, promoting the economic, environmental, and human health benefits of grass-fed meats and dairy. The Town and Country RC&D area covers 13 southeastern Wisconsin counties, including nearly all of the Rock River basin.
Kirsten can be reached at 920-541-3208
We invite anyone involved in production, processing, or marketing to be part of our Grazing Issue Team.
Mike Gehl, Grazing Technical Specialist
Town and Country RC&D develops management-intensive grazing plans for beef, dairy, sheep and goat graziers throughout southeastern Wisconsin. We are interested in hearing from producers considering transitioning to pasture, and partner agencies looking to assist farmers.to do same.
Mike Gehl was hired in October, 2010 to provide technical assistance to farmers wishing to transition to pasture grazing. He comes to us with a lifetime of experience dairy farming, the last 10 years running a certified organic dairy. Mike farms the Gehl Farm in Hartford in Washington County; the farm has been in the family for 162 years. The farm ownership has now been transferred to his son, Adam, to allow Mike time to pursue his second career of educating other farmers about the benefits of grazing.
"I'm proud to be on the grazing staff of Town and Country. My focus and dream is to impart the knowledge of grazing to all in need of it," Mike said. "The passion for grazing only increases as I see the benefits provided to the land, water and farmer. My eyes have been opened to the misinformation out there, and I see the need and want in people to learn this. This job is to take what I've learned and experienced throughout my career and in grazing school and share it. It is so dynamic, there is always more to learn. It is overwhelming and fantastic."
Mike can be reached at 262-689-6689.
Photo above: Mike Gehl (left) , Town and Country RC&D's new grazing specialist, speaks with Randy Romanski, Secretary of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, about the important work being done under the initiative of the Grazing Lands Consevation Initiative Program (GLCI) grant. Photo by Kirsten Jurcek
Mike Gehl was hired in October, 2010 to provide technical assistance to farmers wishing to transition to pasture grazing. He comes to us with a lifetime of experience dairy farming, the last 10 years running a certified organic dairy. Mike farms the Gehl Farm in Hartford in Washington County; the farm has been in the family for 162 years. The farm ownership has now been transferred to his son, Adam, to allow Mike time to pursue his second career of educating other farmers about the benefits of grazing.
"I'm proud to be on the grazing staff of Town and Country. My focus and dream is to impart the knowledge of grazing to all in need of it," Mike said. "The passion for grazing only increases as I see the benefits provided to the land, water and farmer. My eyes have been opened to the misinformation out there, and I see the need and want in people to learn this. This job is to take what I've learned and experienced throughout my career and in grazing school and share it. It is so dynamic, there is always more to learn. It is overwhelming and fantastic."
Mike can be reached at 262-689-6689.
Photo above: Mike Gehl (left) , Town and Country RC&D's new grazing specialist, speaks with Randy Romanski, Secretary of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, about the important work being done under the initiative of the Grazing Lands Consevation Initiative Program (GLCI) grant. Photo by Kirsten Jurcek
Karissa Chinault, Intern
Karissa Chinault is finishing her senior year at UW-Whitewater. She will be graduating in May, 2013 with a major in Ecology & Field Biology and a History minor. She grew up in Cambridge, Wisconsin and graduated from high school there. She is involved in the Water Council, Ecology Club, and Young Americans for Liberty at UWW. She is helping coordinate the Wheel Against the Weeds educational bike ride for the invasive species issue team, as well as helping support all of our programs. This summer Karissa will be working on Waterford Lake with the Clean Boats, Clean Waters program project within Town and Country RC&D. When she isn't at school or work, she is found spending time with her friends and family.
