Wisconsin Ag Connection - Carlson to Resign as WFU President; Caruso To Take Over

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Carlson to Resign as WFU President; Caruso To Take Over
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 09/29/2009

There will be a change in leadership at the Wisconsin Farmers Union office this week. Sue Carlson announced her resignation from the group's board of directors effective September 30 after serving six years as its president. The Vernon County native recently married Robert Carlson of Jamestown, North Dakota, and has decided to move to his home state, where he serves as president of the North Dakota Farmers Union.

Carlson told Wisconsin Ag Connection on Monday that she was proud of the many things she was able to accomplish during her tenure with WFU.

"I feel that I'm leaving this organization in better hands than when I first assumed its leadership," she said. "The Wisconsin Farmers Union is stronger financially, has more member-participation than before and is a more active player in the rural community."

This isn't the first time Carlson indicated a desire to step down from her job. In late 2007, she announced that she was not going to seek re-election for the WFU presidency. But during the organization's state convention the following February, she decided to continue on at the urging of many of the organization's members. She has also held leadership positions with the National Farmers Union and served as a board member on the National Cattlemen's Beef Board.

The former Sue Beitlich says she does not have other obligations awaiting her in the Peace Garden State; but said it may not take long for her to get involved with something.

Meanwhile, the person taking her place is no stranger to the organization, as Doug Caruso has agreed to fill her vacancy. He had been serving as the CEO of the Wisconsin Farmers Union Specialty Cheese Company, a dairy foods manufacturing firm based in Montfort, from 2003 through April 2009. It was then that he was nominated to serve as the director of the U.S. Farm Service Agency in Washington--a post he held for only a short time.

Caruso also served as the head of the Wisconsin FSA under the appointment of the Clinton Administration between 1993-2001. Prior to those responsibilities, he worked as a state director for U.S. Senator Herb Kohl's office and was also the general manager of the former Farmers Union Milk Marketing Cooperative.