I recall when I moved to Wisconsin, having been raised as a city girl, I knew no one who hunted. I was completely unfamiliar with hunting culture. At the time, Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) was spreading through deer populations in nearby counties, and the topic dominated news coverage and water-cooler conversations. Listening to reports and voices from around the region, I began to understand the heritage, the hunter’s code, and the practical role of hunting.
This was a lesson not in hunting, but in understanding.
Amid the election cacophony, the Academy has been steadfastly connecting people all around the state and increasing the understanding we have of one another—and the world we share. We are standing on the Academy’s long history of civil discourse to reinforce the common ground and shared values in Wisconsin.
Exploring timeless topics, such as astronomy and how birds navigate via the night sky, feeds curious minds and replenishes wonder. Collaboration on timely issues, such as the changing climate in Wisconsin, raises personal stories from across the state and keeps us cooperating on a path forward. Enjoying work by writers and poets in Wisconsin reinforces our shared humanity. These opportunities are more than a reprieve from this hostile election climate: they are an answer to it.
In November, the Academy will hold the Climate Fast Forward conference in Rothschild, near Wausau. This is a powerful and practical act of hope by a statewide community, and we expect more than 400 people to come together during the event to address climate change in our state. Whether they are farmers speaking the language of soil health and erosion, civil servants fluent in federal funding and policy opportunities, private businesses pursuing sustainability, environmental justice activists, or dedicated non-
profit leaders—all these people care about Wisconsin’s natural world and our shared future.
At this conference, and through all we do at the Academy, we respect one another and know that we need each other to fulfill a better, brighter Wisconsin. I am grateful to you, all the members, supporters, and partners. I’m excited for what is ahead.
