Ride to Farm is a bicycle ride to raise awareness and funds for the Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers (WSBDF) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The school’s mission is “If you have a dream to farm we’re here to help you get started.” The WSBDF emphasizes business planning and pasture-based farm management.

Ride to Farm will have two route options in 2014. The more challenging 55 mile route has a 2,130 foot elevation gain. The easier 52 mile route has a 1,585 foot elevation gain and includes a 5-mile stretch on the Military Ridge Bike Trail. Both routes start and end at a shelter in Birch Lake Park, Barneveld.

Farm rest stops on both routes include:

• Dick and Kim Cates graze Jersey steers on lush pasture at the Cates Family Farm near Spring Green, WI. Dick is the director of the Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers.
• Uplands Cheese makes award-winning artisan cheese using milk from their grass-based dairy outside Dodgeville, WI. Cheesemaker Andy Hatch is a graduate of the Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers. They have mentored several apprentices from our school. Students from River Valley FFA will greet and serve riders at this stop.

On both farms, participants can relax while sampling locally produced cheese, milk and other treats provided by farm families and the River Valley FFA.

For details and registration information, visit the Ride to Farm website.