WISCONSIN (August 19, 2026) — At a dangerous time for America’s grasslands and the birds that rely upon them, the Nationwide Audubon Society is proud to acknowledge seven Wisconsin farms and ranches newly licensed as Audubon Licensed Chicken-Pleasant Land. Earned via Audubon’s Conservation Ranching program, the newly licensed operations are Bouressa Household Farm close to New London; Prairie Pastured Beef close to Rudolph; the Kerstiens Household Farm close to Stitzer; the Kieckhoefer Household Farm close to New Richmond; Willow Creek Ranch close to Coon Valley; Riemer Household Farm close to Brodhead; and Sedge Wooden Farms in Cornell.
Audubon Conservation Ranching is a science-based certification program that works with farmers and ranchers to deal with the steep decline of North America’s grassland birds whereas supporting wholesome, productive agricultural operations. By means of Audubon Licensed Chicken-Pleasant Land, producers develop and implement a Habitat Administration Plan tailor-made to their land and operation and full an impartial third-party audit. Administration facilities on rotational grazing—utilizing livestock to create a mosaic of habitat that gives habitat for various hen species—together with practices similar to bird-friendly haying, woody vegetation administration, prescribed fireplace, wetland and oak savanna restoration, and safety of streams and different delicate areas.
Since 1970, grassland birds have skilled the steepest inhabitants decline of any terrestrial hen group in North America, pushed largely by habitat loss and degradation. Right this moment, 157 Audubon Licensed Chicken-Pleasant farms and ranches are managing 4.5 million acres throughout the US to offer high-quality habitat for grassland birds and different wildlife whereas sustaining productive working lands.
Certification additionally carries the conservation story past the farm gate. Every operation can now use the Audubon Licensed Chicken-Pleasant Land certification seal on qualifying beef merchandise and to advertise its enterprise, giving shoppers a visual connection between the meals they buy and the grasslands the place it was raised. At a time when analysis reveals many Individuals have a restricted understanding of and connection to grasslands, the seal can function connective tissue between shoppers and conservation—serving to individuals acknowledge that decisions within the market can assist farmers and ranchers who’re managing habitat for birds and biodiversity.
The milestone marks the end result of labor that started with Audubon’s 2024 formal launch of this system in Wisconsin. “Certification acknowledges what these farmers and ranchers are carrying out on the bottom, however it’s additionally the start of a long-term partnership,” mentioned Ashly Steinke, Audubon Grassland Ecologist in Wisconsin. “Each certainly one of these farms is completely different, and that’s the power of working immediately with producers to search out ways in which good grazing administration can create the number of habitat grassland birds want. I see those self same connections alone Sedge Wooden Farms in Cornell, which my household manages as Audubon Licensed Chicken-Pleasant Land and I exploit as an illustration website for this system. Wholesome grasslands can assist birds, cattle, and the individuals who make their dwelling from the land.”
Audubon Licensed Chicken-Pleasant Land certification is earned following an impartial third-party audit and requires farms and ranches to fulfill requirements for habitat administration, environmental sustainability, and animal well being and welfare. By means of Audubon Conservation Ranching, producers work with Audubon ecologists to develop and frequently adapt administration methods knowledgeable by hen and habitat monitoring.
The newly licensed Wisconsin operations display how these ideas might be utilized throughout the state’s numerous working landscapes:
Bouressa Household Farm — New London
Rachel Bouressa returned to her household’s former dairy farm and transitioned the operation right into a grass-based cattle ranch. Right this moment, the 365-acre farm helps a cow-calf and grass-finishing operation whereas offering habitat for species together with Japanese Meadowlark, Bobolink, Grasshopper Sparrow, and Dickcissel. Along with rotational grazing, Bouressa is working to reconnect grasslands fragmented by tree rows and restore beforehand drained wetlands, including habitat variety throughout the farm.
Kerstiens Household Farm — Stitzer
Casey Kerstiens manages his household farm in Wisconsin’s Driftless Space, the place a everlasting stream winds via the pastures and an oak savanna stays on the property. His grazing method is especially effectively suited to grassland birds: cattle use the house pasture for spring calving earlier than being moved to different pastures, permitting the grass to get well for the rest of the rising season and creating a mixture of shorter and taller vegetation for species together with Upland Sandpiper, Bobolink, and Grasshopper Sparrow. The farm can also be working to handle jap pink cedar and multiflora rose, shield its riparian areas, and use prescribed fireplace to enhance habitat and forage.
Prairie Pastured Beef — Rudolph
Carl Flaig manages roughly 500 acres inside Wisconsin’s Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Space, one of many state’s most necessary landscapes for grassland birds. The property traditionally supported Better Prairie-Hen leks, and an lively lek stays immediately throughout a county highway from the farm’s pastures. Flaig additionally makes use of cattle to handle adjoining Wisconsin Division of Pure Assets grasslands for Better Prairie-Hen habitat. His administration emphasizes sustaining a diverse grassland construction, controlling woody encroachment, and utilizing grazing to assist species together with Better Prairie-Hen, Quick-eared Owl, Upland Sandpiper, Bobolink, and Grasshopper Sparrow.
Kieckhoefer Household Farm — New Richmond
Fourth-generation rancher David Kieckhoefer manages 385 acres in Wisconsin’s Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Space, the place his grasslands complement a broader community of publicly managed wetland and grassland habitat. Audubon hen surveys have already documented excessive numbers of a number of precedence grassland species on the ranch. Kieckhoefer is constructing on that basis via rotational grazing, bird-friendly haying, woody vegetation administration, and alternatives to revive oak savanna and set up native warm-season grasses.
Willow Creek Ranch — Coon Valley
Rod Ofte manages the 168-acre Willow Creek Ranch within the Driftless Space’s historic Coon Creek Watershed. A chilly-water stream supporting brook and brown trout winds via the property, whereas its panorama transitions from open grassland to remnant oak savanna and hardwood forest. Ofte makes use of rotational grazing to create diverse vegetation construction for birds similar to Bobolink, Japanese Meadowlark, Grasshopper Sparrow, and Savannah Sparrow, whereas mechanical removing and prescribed fireplace are getting used to revive oak savanna habitat for Purple-headed Woodpecker.
Riemer Household Farm — Brodhead
Bryce and Jen Riemer and their household handle 160 acres of pasture alongside roughly 300 acres of natural crops in southern Wisconsin. Their grass-finished cattle operation makes use of rotational grazing to create each shorter and taller vegetation wanted by species similar to Upland Sandpiper, Bobolink, and Grasshopper Sparrow. The farm additionally participates in a nutrient-reduction program with the Metropolis of Brodhead, the place practices together with delayed hay and pasture reducing complement its bird-friendly administration.
The Audubon Conservation Ranching program in Wisconsin is supported by companions together with the Driftless Space Land Conservancy, Golden Sands Useful resource Conservation & Improvement, GrassWorks/Grassland 2.0, Nationwide Fish and Wildlife Basis, Pure Assets Conservation Service, Pure Assets Basis of Wisconsin, Sand County Basis, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wisconsin Division of Pure Assets, and others.
About Audubon Conservation Ranching
Audubon Conservation Ranching companions with ranchers to maintain wholesome grasslands, plentiful birdlife, and resilient rural communities. By means of our bird-friendly land certification and science-based method, we empower land stewards to boost habitat, enhance soil well being and water high quality, and strengthen the connection between conservation and ranching. By buying merchandise from Audubon Licensed Chicken-Pleasant Land, shoppers develop into conservationists, serving to shield America’s grasslands and the birds, wildlife, and those who rely upon them. For extra info, go to www.audubon.org/ranching.
