Beginning Farmers Stand with Dan
Donation protected
We are a diverse group of farmers. We don’t come from the same zip codes, use the same practices, share the same political views, own the same acreage, but we are part of the same family - the Farmers Union family. We take that very seriously; we watch out for each other, listen to each other, and make sure that our community members have what they need when faced with tragedy. Right now, one of us could use some help. This is the unique story of Dan Waldvogle, a member of the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union and a participant in the 2016/17 Beginning Farmer Institute (BFI) through the National Farmers Union, as told from the perspective of his BFI peers.
In early summer 2016 all of us were accepted into the Beginning Farmer Institute through the National Farmers Union. When we applied, we had no idea what to expect from this annual program that brings together beginning farmers from across the county. Most of us met Dan for the first time in Washington DC in September of 2016 during our first session. During that trip, we learned of his current farming career with the family operators of TN BAR Cattle Company and his future aspirations to own a finishing operation and run a butcher shop. We also found out that Dan was a successful, traveling musician who gave up a promising career in music for his other passion - farming. Dan spoke to us with a certain fire about his desire to provide a service with his farm that people could depend on that was focused on building community around the meat producers and consumers in Chaffee County, Colorado. It was clear from the moment we met Dan that he could make his dreams a reality.
At our second BFI session in Salinas, CA in November, Dan shared terrible news. Just days before the trip, he and his wife Carolyn learned that her cancer, that they believed was in remission, had actually metastasized and the diagnosis was grim. Dan then shared the history of her cancer diagnosis which they had dealt with and treated just a year before. He also shared her wish to live out the rest of her life without the pain of treatment, instead sharing experiences with Dan that he could carry on with him for a lifetime. Dan opened up about the financial burden that cancer has brought into their lives and allowed us to see the vulnerabilities that illnesses open people up to. At the same time, Dan gave us an opportunity. Without knowing it, he expressed some of the challenges he will come to know in life without Carolyn.
Now that time has come. On January 9th, 2017, Carolyn Waldvogle lost her battle with triple negative breast cancer just one and a half years after diagnosis. She was 37 years old. Dan was by her side, along with her brother, when she passed at their home in Salida, CO. We have been told that Carolyn made the very best of the time she had left and was most concerned with the feelings of her friends and family as they coped with the reality of the loss. In honor of her and in support of Dan, we are bringing together our networks, across 9 states, to help raise money for Dan.
Join us in sending love and support to Dan Waldvogle. A contribution will help him with the costs that were accumulated during this difficult time and will hopefully leave him in a better position to pursue his dreams.
Sincerely,
The 2016/17 Beginning Farmer Institute Class of the National Farmers Union
Betty Anderson, Jamie Baker, Brittany Ann Bula, Layne Cozzolino, Tommy Enright, Josh Stolzenburg - Wisconsin Farmers Union
Jimmy Dula, Caiti Hldaky - Rocky Mountain Farmers Union
Katie Jantzen - Nebraska Farmers Union
Justin Loch, Amanda Schaub - Montana Farmers Union
Christy Ottinger, Ariana Taylor-Stanley - National Farmers Union (Maryland and New York)
D’Quinton Robertson - Iowa Farmers Union
Eric Sannerud - Minnesota Farmers Union
Zach Teske - Kansas Farmers Union
In early summer 2016 all of us were accepted into the Beginning Farmer Institute through the National Farmers Union. When we applied, we had no idea what to expect from this annual program that brings together beginning farmers from across the county. Most of us met Dan for the first time in Washington DC in September of 2016 during our first session. During that trip, we learned of his current farming career with the family operators of TN BAR Cattle Company and his future aspirations to own a finishing operation and run a butcher shop. We also found out that Dan was a successful, traveling musician who gave up a promising career in music for his other passion - farming. Dan spoke to us with a certain fire about his desire to provide a service with his farm that people could depend on that was focused on building community around the meat producers and consumers in Chaffee County, Colorado. It was clear from the moment we met Dan that he could make his dreams a reality.
At our second BFI session in Salinas, CA in November, Dan shared terrible news. Just days before the trip, he and his wife Carolyn learned that her cancer, that they believed was in remission, had actually metastasized and the diagnosis was grim. Dan then shared the history of her cancer diagnosis which they had dealt with and treated just a year before. He also shared her wish to live out the rest of her life without the pain of treatment, instead sharing experiences with Dan that he could carry on with him for a lifetime. Dan opened up about the financial burden that cancer has brought into their lives and allowed us to see the vulnerabilities that illnesses open people up to. At the same time, Dan gave us an opportunity. Without knowing it, he expressed some of the challenges he will come to know in life without Carolyn.
Now that time has come. On January 9th, 2017, Carolyn Waldvogle lost her battle with triple negative breast cancer just one and a half years after diagnosis. She was 37 years old. Dan was by her side, along with her brother, when she passed at their home in Salida, CO. We have been told that Carolyn made the very best of the time she had left and was most concerned with the feelings of her friends and family as they coped with the reality of the loss. In honor of her and in support of Dan, we are bringing together our networks, across 9 states, to help raise money for Dan.
Join us in sending love and support to Dan Waldvogle. A contribution will help him with the costs that were accumulated during this difficult time and will hopefully leave him in a better position to pursue his dreams.
Sincerely,
The 2016/17 Beginning Farmer Institute Class of the National Farmers Union
Betty Anderson, Jamie Baker, Brittany Ann Bula, Layne Cozzolino, Tommy Enright, Josh Stolzenburg - Wisconsin Farmers Union
Jimmy Dula, Caiti Hldaky - Rocky Mountain Farmers Union
Katie Jantzen - Nebraska Farmers Union
Justin Loch, Amanda Schaub - Montana Farmers Union
Christy Ottinger, Ariana Taylor-Stanley - National Farmers Union (Maryland and New York)
D’Quinton Robertson - Iowa Farmers Union
Eric Sannerud - Minnesota Farmers Union
Zach Teske - Kansas Farmers Union
Organizer and beneficiary
Layne Cozzolino
Organizer
Stevens Point, WI
Daniel Waldvogle
Beneficiary
