WESTON, Wisconsin [Jan. 24, 2026] – The Wisconsin Outstanding Young Farmer (OYF) program is pleased to announce Tyler Baudhuin, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, was selected as the 2026 Wisconsin Outstanding Young Farmers during the 72nd Annual Awards Weekend Jan. 23-24, 2026 sponsored by Alcivia, Northside Elevator, Inc. and Riesterer & Schnell.
Tyler Baudhuin is the fourth generation on the Sturgeon Bay dairy farm where he helps operate in partnership with other family members.
He started his personal involvement in farming in 2014 when he purchased 46 acres of land. Since that time, he has become a partner in his family dairy that has recently been expanded to more than 300 cows.
Their total 900 acres of cropping land includes corn, alfalfa, soybeans, wheat, peas, oats and straw.
Baudhuin is sponsored by Forest Construction, Greenstone FCS and Total Dairy Services.
Additional winners
· Derrick & Miranda Nelson, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, were named the Speak Up for Ag Winners, which is sponsored by Agri-View. Both Derrick and Miranda are active in promoting agriculture in a variety of ways. One of their most notable contributions is founding the Breakfast on the Farm in Eau Claire County. Since they hosted it in 2022 the event has grown into a highly successful outreach event that also provides financial support for local 4-H, FFA chapters, local fire department and scholarships. The couple also played active leadership roles in Eau Claire County Farm Technology Days in 2021. The Nelsons are sponsored by Ag Partners, Boxer Trucking, Central Star, Chippewa Valley Energy, DFA-Todd Caulum, Eau Claire Energy, Johnson Tractor, Synergy, Mondovi Veterinary Service, Otter Creek Agronomy, Northwest Insurance Agency and Tractor Central.
· Perry & Cassandra Baeten, New Franken, Wisconsin, in Brown County, were named the First Runners Up. Over the past decade they have increased herd size from 70 to 700 cows. The Baetens are sponsored by ABS Global, Bank of Luxemburg, Bayland Buildings, CP Feeds, Green Bay Insurance, Kewaunee County OYF, Nicolet Bank, R Schlies Transfer, Inc., Total Dairy Services, United Cooperative.
· Derrick & Miranda Nelson, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, in Eau Claire County, were named the Second Runners Up. The couple owns and operates 1505 acres of land with 531 acres owned and 974 rented. The farm also includes 235 head of Holstein cows along with the accompanying youngstock. The Nelsons are sponsored by Ag Partners, Boxer Trucking, Central Star, Chippewa Valley Energy, DFA-Todd Caulum, Eau Claire Energy, Johnson Tractor, Synergy, Mondovi Veterinary Service, Otter Creek Agronomy, Northwest Insurance Agency and Tractor Central.
Other finalists
· Luke and Ashley Lisowe, Malone, Wisconsin, sponsored by Central Star and Quality Liquid Feed.
· Alissa and Travis Murray, Omro, Wisconsin, sponsored by Adell and United Cooperative.
· Ryan and Megan White, Reedsburg, Wisconsin, sponsored by Alcivia, Central Star, Johnson Tractor, Lime Ridge Ag Supply, Mlsna Dairy Supply, MSA Professional Services, Phibro, Quality Liquid Feed, River Valley Veterinary Clinic, United Cooperative, Zinpro.
Judges for the event included:
· Dawn Haag, member-owner of Virhada Holsteins LLC, 1998 WI OYF 2nd Runner Up
· Matt Lange, Independent Business Consultant and founder of Intagral
· Kyle Zwieg, Owner/Operator of Zwieg’s Maple Acres, LLC and 2022 WI OYF Winner and 2023
National OYF Winner
Our Emcee for the Saturday evening Awards Banquet was Millaine Wells, co-host of Local 5 LIVE, weekdays from 9:00-10:00 am. She is also the host of Midwest Farm Weekly, Saturday at 5:30 am and Sunday at 5:00 am.
In addition to the important networking events and the awards portion of the program, OYF finalists participated in ag forums learning hands-on training on very detailed farm safety and preventing farm accidents. The session was presented by Marie Vanden Wymelenberg, ER Trauma Nurst at St. Vincent’s in Green Bay, and she and her husband Adam were WI OYF 1st Runner Up in 2025.
The group also toured Mullins Cheese Factory in Mosinee and Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau. They also had lunch at a unique venue, Wausau Mine Company.
The 2026 event was held at Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, Weston, Wisconsin. The Host for this year’s event was Lindsay Baneck from Helenville, Wisconsin. Next year, Tyler Baudhuin will host the Wisconsin OYF Awards Weekend in January 2026, Weston, WI.
Sponsors for the 2026 Wisconsin OYF event included:
· PREMIER SPONSORS: Alcivia, Northside Elevator, Inc., Riesterer & Schnell
· DIAMOND SPONSORS: Forest Construction, Johnson Tractor, Professional Dairy Producers, USAgNet
· PLATINUM SPONSORS: Agri-View, Bayland Buildings, Inc., Compeer Financial, Finger Family Farm, LLC, Forest Construction, Nicolet National Bank, Quality Liquid Feeds, Inc., Swiderski Equipment, Inc., and Total Dairy Service, LLC.
· GOLD SPONSORS: Ag Partners, Bank of Luxemburg, CentralStar Cooperative, Cheery’s Creative Crafts, Chippewa Valley OYF, CP Feeds, Dairy Business Association, Durst-Larse Farms, Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, Greenstone FCS, Richard & Mary Jane Herrmann, Daphne & Loyd Holterman, Jauquet’s Hillview Dairy, Inc., Kuhn North America, Inc., Harold & Cindy Matton, Meister Cheese Co., MLSNA Dairy Supply, MSA Professional Service, Northwest Insurance Agency, Inc., Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy, LLC, R Schlies Transfer, Inc., Ken & Ann Reckelberg, Sargento Cheese, Inc., Synergy, and Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation, Inc.
· SILVER SPONSORS: Associated Milk Producers Inc. – AMPI, BelGioioso, Chippewa Valley Energy, Mike & Becky Conard, Dudkiewicz Farms, Eau Claire Energy Cooperative, Green Bay Insurance, Jelli’s Market – Lindsay & Eric Baneck, Lime Ridge Ag Supply, Travis Marti Farms, LLC, Milkinaire Dairy, Poison Control, River Valley Veterinary Clinic S.C., United Cooperative, Zinpro, and Zweig’s Maple Acres, LLC
· BRONZE SPONSORS: ABS Global, Adell Cooperative, Eau Claire Student Transit-Boxer Trucking, Heeg Farms Inc., Kewaunee County OYF, Lakeshore Farm Management, Otter Creek Agronomy, Pertzborn Farms, and Tractor Central
· SUPPORTER: David & Gayle Baehr, Dairy Farmers of America, Mondovi Veterinary Service, and Organic Valley Coop
About Wisconsin OYF:
The Outstanding Young Farmer Program began in 1954 as a National Program for the US Jaycees. Wisconsin’s first winner was named in 1952 and 72 state programs have been held since. Wisconsin has had 23 national winners during the program’s history. Visit www.wi-oyf.org to learn more or submit a nomination or an application form.
WI OYF Winner – Tyler Baudhuin phone # 920-493-1840
