Wisconsin Ag Connection - Debbie Crave Receives Highest Award From UW-Madison CALS

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Debbie Crave Receives Highest Award From UW-Madison CALS
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 11/13/2009

One of the family members of this year's Wisconsin Farm Technology Days host farm has received the highest award conferred by the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Debbie Crave, who serves as vice president at Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese Co., was presented with an Honorary Award during a banquet and ceremony at the UW-Madison by College Dean Molly Jahn.

"Honorary Recognition is given annually to a select few who have demonstrated outstanding and inspirational leadership, integrity and unselfish service, making significant contributions in the areas of agriculture, life sciences, natural resources and social science," Jahn said. "Over the past 100 years, the College has presented just 500 Honorary Recognition awards. Crave was one of only two award recipients this year."

Crave, a UW-Madison graduate in forestry and horticulture, has spent her entire career promoting Wisconsin agricultural products. She served as Alice in Dairyland for a year, where she traveled throughout the state spreading the message of the state's agricultural sector. She also worked for 16 years at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, and three years at the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board. In 2001, she became Vice President at Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese, where she manages administrative, budget, sales, public relations and marketing activities for the family business.

The Craves--which include Debbie, her husband George, his brothers, Charles, Thomas and Mark, and their wives--have a 1000-cow dairy farm in addition to their award-winning farmstead cheese plant. The family business is consistently among the first in Wisconsin to incorporate innovative farming practices, and work with UW-Madison researchers to advance agricultural knowledge.