Project Factsheet
The Lower Fox Demonstration Farms Network is a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative project designed to showcase
and demonstrate leading edge conservation practices to improve Great Lakes water quality.
The Great Lakes basin has diverse geology, climate, topography and soils that provide challenges to controlling
erosion and nonpoint source pollution not always found in other parts of the country. The diversity of the region
creates challenges for managers to develop conservation practice systems that function in a predictable manner
while addressing the region’s conservation priorities.
The need for more and better information on the effectiveness of
current conservation systems used to reduce nonpoint source
pollution is especially critical for watersheds of the Great Lakes basin
such as Western Lake Erie, Saginaw Bay and the Lower Fox River.
The Demonstration Farm Network will conduct demonstrations of the
effectiveness and adaptability of conservation practice systems to
reduce erosion and sedimentation, control phosphorus runoff and
address other nonpoint source pollution issues. It will also provide
educational/technology transfer opportunities for the public, farmers,
land managers, agribusiness, environmental and natural resource
agencies and research entities and their partners.
The Demonstration Farm Network objectives are to:
1. establish sites within the Lower Fox River to test the effectiveness of current and innovative conservation
systems
2. Establish an effective mechanism to transfer technology and conservation system effectiveness information to
land management agencies, producers and the public
3. Create opportunities for stakeholders to test their research, technical assistance and program implementation at
the demonstration sites
4. Create and implement an information/outreach strategy to share information and lessons learned from the
Network to managers, researchers and stakeholders across the Great Lakes Basin.
The four farms participating in the Network are:
- Van Wychen Farms, operated by George Van Wychen
- Tindale Cropping, operated by Scott Theunis
- Brickstead Dairy, operated by Dan Brick
- Nettekoven Farms, operated by Greg Nettekoven
The Network also has one satellite farm site, located on New
Horizons Dairy operated by Dave VandeHey.
This project is lead by the Great Lakes Commission in conjunction with the Brown and Outagamie County Land
Conservation Departments, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
For more information, contact Brent Petersen at the Brown County Land and Water Conservation Department
(Petersen_BA@co.brown.wi.us or 920-391-4643)