Rachel is a 5th generation farmer in Waupaca County, a grazier, and advocate for farming and preserving it as a way of life for multi-generation farmers like herself, as well as an opportunity for beginning farmers.  The connection between agriculture and our state’s natural resources is something she is passionate about.  “Without a diverse and robust agricultural sector and high quality water resources, Wisconsin loses so much that makes it wonderful.”

Born and raised on a dairy farm near Royalton, WI, she then went on to UW-Madison and received degrees in Agronomy/Soils and worked in the Agroecology Masters program.  In 2014 after a barn fire, Rachel left the university and returned to the farm. She currently practices management intensive rotational grazing with her herd of about 90 head of British White Park cattle on about 120 acres of her family’s land.  She regularly engages with the community and hosts farm tours and events.

Off farm, Rachel is involved in agriculture locally, at the state level, and nationally.  Rachel is the at-large director on the state Wisconsin Farmers Union board, a member of the local Farmers Union and Farm Bureau chapters, a FFA Alumni member and a supporter.  She also is a project coordinator for the grazing education and advocacy non-profit GrassWorks, a co-coordinator of Central Wisconsin Graziers Network and a mentor farmer and conservation plan-writer for the Wisconsin Women in Conservation.  She also participates and engages with numerous other working groups regarding water quality and regenerative/sustainable agriculture.

When not working on or off farm, she enjoys spending time with her 2 young children and getting time on the water as an avid paddle-boarder or fishing trip tag-along, and always strives to look at water each day.

www.bouressafamilyfarm.com
www.grassworks.org
https://www.facebook.com/Bouressafamilyfarm