Our Mission

Valley Stewardship Network encourages, promotes and helps create opportunities for pro-active stewardship efforts in the Kickapoo River Watershed through education and awareness efforts and by promoting community pride, positive land use, compatible development and communication and coordination among groups in the watershed.

NEWS & EVENTS

Just released -- Vernon County Community Food Assessment

The community food assessment report summarizes the findings of VSN's 18-month study of local food systems. It addresses issues of production, processing, marketing and consumption from a local perspective and identifies projects and ideas for positively resolving those issues.

VSN's Annual Friendraiser

Date: Saturday, June 27th

Time: 6:30 - 9:30 pm

Place: Kickapoo Valley Reserve Visitor Center

Cost: $20.00 per person

VSN’s 2nd Annual Friendraiser is a celebration of community, connection and stewardship of the Kickapoo River Watershed. This year’s Friendraiser will feature a presentation by Steven Apfelbaum, restoration ecologist and author of Nature’s Second Chance: Restoring the Ecology of Stone Prairie Farm. Book sales and signing will follow Steven's presentation. In addition, we will offer a silent auction of items donated by local citizens and businesses. Free hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be served prior to the presentation followed by dessert. All food and drinks will be sourced as organic, sustainable and local as available.

We hope to see you all there!

Just released -- VSN's Spring Newsletter

Big Turnout for the Local Farm and Food Economy Presentation

On May 21st over 100 people attended VSN's Local Farm and Food Economy presentation, the culmination of our 18-month long study on how local food dollars are spent and where local farm dollars are going.

Jessica Luhning, VSN Projects Coordinator, began the evening by describing the Food and Farm Initiative (FFI), including its team members, allies, accomplishments, and future plans, which are very exciting!

Ken Meter, CEO of Crossroads Resource Center in Minneapolis and creator of "Finding Food in Farm Country" studies, displayed graphs and explained the numbers to illustrate the troubled state of Vernon County's local food economy. He also provided similar data from around the nation, emphasizing that Vernon County is not alone in its struggle to keep local food dollars local.

Delicious, locally sourced food was served. Thanks to everyone who helped make this event a success!

As promised, presentations from the event are available here on VSN's Web site. Click on a document below to read or save it (requires Adobe Acrobat).

Jessica Luhning's Community Food Assessment Presentation

Ken Meter's Southwest Wisconsin Food and Farm Economy Presentation (This is a large file; with slower Internet connections it will take a long time to load.)

The completed Vernon County Community Food Assessment report

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