STAFF NOTE: Let's Talk About 'The Meat Of The Matter'
'our look, from a Chippewa Valley lens, into the struggles and hopes shared by the local livestock industry'
In snagging our latest issue (out across the Chippewa Valley as of Thursday, June 26), you probably noticed one story teaser unlike the rest, on the cover. Assuming you didn’t flip right to it, let this be your all-caps sign: YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS STORY.
When you flip to page 50, you’ll be greeted by a multi-page spread of custom design (the cool linocut stamp icons used throughout were hand-carved by our designer, Jade Juedes – so cool) uplifting the feature story, “The Meat Of The Matter.”
Ideated and penned by our associate editor, Evelyn Nelson, the story was not originally intended to be a full-fledged feature story; its topic quickly revealed itself to be something requiring a months-long deep cut: how the Chippewa Valley’s livestock farmers, producers, and organizations are faring in 2025.
To discuss the state of agriculture throughout Wisconsin would be… well, an intimidating, massive undertaking. To truly dive into, discuss, and hone in on any one of Wisconsin’s major ag industries, is an intimidating, massive undertaking. “The Meat Of The Matter” is our look, from a Chippewa Valley lens, into the struggles and hopes shared by the local livestock industry.
"the meat of the matter" pulls back on some parts of the local livestock industry, highlighting folks who are showing the kind of resilience i consider synonymous with wisconsinites.
We know this topic hits home for a lot of people in the Chippewa Valley, whether your own family roots are found in farmland or you frequent the area's abundance of farmers markets and other agricultural events. Both of my parents' folks were farmers – dairy, produce, and livestock – in Chippewa County and Dunn County. I spent childhood summers weeding pepper plants, and many weekends driving through corn fields on the back of a John Deere Gator.
“The Meat Of The Matter” pulls the curtain back on some parts of the local livestock industry, highlighting folks who are showing the kind of resilience I consider synonymous with Wisconsinites.
We’ll likely be sharing more about the feature story online: behind-the-scenes video and photo work from the past couple of months, face-to-face interviews and discussion with some of the folks we connected with (part of Wisconsin Farmers Union, Menomonie Market Food Co-op, Durand Smokehouse, and others) for the story, and more.
And even if you don’t keep up with us online (you totally should), we’ll see you in print in another two weeks. Take care of yourself, and each other, ’til then.
Read "The Meat Of The Matter" online or pick up the latest Volume One in a newsstand near you in the Chippewa Valley. Special thanks to Wisconsin Farmers Union and Julie Keown-Bomar, Danielle Endvick; Menomonie Market Food Co-op and Cheryl O'Brien, Crystal Halvorson; Durand Smokehouse and Mitch Auld; Rump's Butcher Shoppe and Kyle Neidermire.
