Wisconsin Ag Connection - Former Bloomer Ag Teacher Richter Honored by Kiwanis

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Former Bloomer Ag Teacher Richter Honored by Kiwanis
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 12/08/2017

A long-time agriculture teacher who taught at Bloomer High School for 32 years until retiring in 2005 has been named the 2017 Kiwanis Agribusiness Friend of the Year. Merle Richter received the honor this week during the Kiwanis Club of Chippewa Falls Farm-City Program.

Richter served as national president of the National Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association in 1995, and was part of the executive committee for the 2004 Farm Technology Days in Chippewa County. He was also instrumental in the design and establishment of the Bloomer Aquatic and Recreational Center.

In 2000, he was recognized by the National Association of Agricultural Educators as its Outstanding Agricultural Education Teacher of the Year.

Merle took over the Bloomer program after the retirement of Ray Miller, another giant in the world of ag education. Since his retirement, he's been a major supporter of the 'Ride to Farm,' an annual bicycle race that raises money and awareness for the Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy Farmers program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Local farmers Harley and Barbara Thompson were also presented with Friend of the Year awards by the Kiwanis.

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