July 17, 2025
VERNON COUNTY, Wis. – VERNON COUNTY, Wis. – Kickapoo Conversations is a multi-sector group of local residents who get together on a monthly basis to talk about how we can collaborate to improve and support our region. In recent discussions, we realized the immense impact of federal dollars in our area, and we realized that this is not well known by our neighbors. Washington D.C. seems like a faraway place, but the decisions made at the federal level have a real impact on the residents in our area.
To help bridge the gap between DC and Southwest Wisconsin we have put together a forum
that will include a series of presentations from representatives across a number of key sectors
about the impact of federal support in their respective fields. Our goal is to give a sense of how
federal funding impacts on our everyday lives with real life examples from people who live and
work in our communities. This will be a non-partisan, educational, community exchange of
information.
Following the presentations the panel will take written questions from the audience.
Presentations will include:
- Hetti Brown – Couleecap
- David Hartberg – Vernon Health
- Steve Michaels – Westby Area Schools
- Dan Helgerson – Mayor – City of Westby
- Michele Engh – Immanuel Lutheran Church
- Cassie Hannan – Vernon County Administrative Coordinator
- Brad Robson – Agriculture/Conservation
- Trina Erickson – Viroqua McIntosh Memorial Library
- Brandon Larson – Vernon County Emergency Management
- Kim Ward – Guardianship Services
Date: Tuesday – July 22, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Westby Area Performing Arts Center – 206 West Avenue South Westby, WI 54667
Follow this link to RSVP
Kickapoo Conversations began in 2014 as a group of community members identifying areas to
initiate collaborative responses in rural Vernon, Monroe, and parts of Crawford counties. Kickapoo Conversations works to improve communication and connectivity between communities. When the region experienced serious flooding in August 2018, Kickapoo Conversations played a leadership role in the River to Ridge Flood Recovery initiative. After identifying childcare as a critical issue, Kickapoo Conversations launched a Shared Services Network to support childcare providers, parents, children, and employers. This initiative earned a Wisconsin Top Rural Development Initiative Award in 2020
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