It started with a thought one day in 1952 in Atlanta, Texas. Taking a cue from Louis Bromfield's “Friends of the Land,” Robert Rowe, a former broadcaster and farmer, led a group of physicians and laymen, concerned with present day farming practices and its relationship to good nutrition and health. After a short stay as the first NFA leader, he passed the baton to Dr. Joe Nichols, who in turn, toured the country and created a powerhouse organization, telling the story of proper farming for healthy nutrition for human consumption. The NFA constitution was adopted on February 21, 1953, in Chicago, Illinois.

The seed now planted, Mrs. Clifford (Luella) Scharlau, organized a local NFA chapter in Arcadia, Wisconsin. An organizational meeting occurred on April 27, 1958 at the Park Hotel, Madison, Wisconsin. The national NFA officers, Dr. Joe Nichols, Joe Francis, and Thomas Lavin hosted the meeting with guests, Dr. H. J. Trautmann, Madison, Wisconsin; Royal Lee, DDS, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Carl Engler, Mrs. Scharlau, Pearl Thiessen and Gretchen Wilkie. Dr. H. Trautmann and Gretchen Wilkie were appointed to select nominees for State Officers and Directors. At the second meeting on August 17, 1958 at Devils Lake State Park, nine directors were elected for a 1 year term, each, with Pearl Thiessen appointed acting secretary.

A successful first Annual Rally on November 2, 1958 in Friendship, displayed and sold natural foods, fertilizers and related merchandise. Officers selected for 1 year terms, were: Pearl Thiessen, President; Gretchen Wilkie, 1st V.P.; E.A. Rosenberg, 2nd V.P.; Thomas Steger, 3rd V.P.; and Mrs. Scharlau, Secretary/Treasurer. The second fall Annual Rally, October 10, 1959, held at Friendship/Adams High School, returned to office the same persons for another 1 year term, with Mrs. Scharlau now as Treasurer and Mrs. Kenneth Theel as Secretary.

Through these early years, 1958 through 1960, mimeographed news letters were used to rally support for the WNFA. At the 1959 fall Rally, plans were started toward the publication of a bulletin, in which WNFA growers, producers and advertisers could advertise their wares. The first Bulletin was issued February 26, 1960 from Milwaukee by the then President Pearl Thiessen. It consisted of 2 pages of mimeographed material with nine advertisers, helping to defray the cost of the publication. Articles included, hopes for the Bulletin, a trip to the NFA convention in Texas, info on legislative and other hearings as well as pesticide problems, biological controls of insects and plant diseases, and on consumer legislation. At the fall of 1965 Rally, President Reynold Pottebaum designed the present booklet form and general format. The Cedergren Printing of McFarland issued the booklet in printed form. The Bulletin has grown from its 16 pages to the present 40 pages of information and advertising. Give credit for this to the first editors: Olive Cedergren and John Parks followed by Ramona Paddock and Esther Horsted, and currently Paul Otten.

Annual fall Rallies have been held every year at the following places: Friendship, Madison, Oshkosh, Milwaukee, Watertown, Green Lake Center, Eau Claire, Pewaukee, Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, Stevens Point, La Crosse, Appleton, Wisconsin Dells and Wisconsin Rapids. State chapter Presidents have been: Pearl Thiessen, Russell Derber, Reynold Pottebaum, Elaine Langholff, Bernadine Tetzloff, Edward Tabeau, Dr. Carl Webster, Veronica Sterr, Jim Ehmke, Dr. Paul Courtright-Whyte, Adolph Fredrickson, Patricia Gentile (brief) and Michael Hittner.

The original Constitution and By-Laws for the chapter were written by Bergholz, Thomas Steger, Hildegarde Thielke and Pearl Thiessen. These were approved at a membership meeting at the Raulf Hotel, Oshkosh on April 8, 1962. These were updated and printed in booklet form in 1965. Again in 1974, the document was revised and updated by a second Constitution Committee. The new revised edition was approved and accepted at a special state membership meeting at the Madison Community Center, September 28, 1975 and printed in booklet form in 1977.

The WNFA became incorporated on February 2, 1976. The “Articles of Incorporation” superseded portions of the original Constitution necessitating the consolidation of the two original documents, including the Trautmann-Lee Fund which was incorporated on May 31, 1978. The new title was printed in 1980, reading: “Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of Wisconsin Natural Food Associates, Inc. and Trautmann-Lee Natural Foods Fund, Inc. Again, amendments and changes continue to occur between 1980 through 1998. The year 1997 required major overhaul since the demise of the NFA, as written later in this report.

A new endeavor to promote the correct labeling and sale of farm and garden produce was initiated in the fall of 1974, with a name of “Approved Grower Program.” To participate one had to follow specific conditioned farming practices which included: 3 years of land use without using artificial or chemical fertilizers or biocides; use organic/ecological cultural practices; growing in soil whose humus content is increased by the addition of organic matter; whose mineral content is increased with the application of natural mineral fertilizers and not treated with preservatives, hormones and biotics. A farm or garden approved as such can display a sign certificate indicating approved growing practices.

Another endeavor was a Scholarship Program. It too had specific parameters to follow, namely: course materials must adhere to relative educational practices and purposes of the WNFA; accredited courses must be taught at facilities within the state.

During the tenure of President Russell Derber and Secretary Dr. Paul C. Whyte, 1963, perhaps the thought occurred earlier, however, the question arose, “WHO WILL TAKE CARE OF THE FUTURE IF YOU DON'T???” Thus the beginning of a Trust fund honoring Drs. Trautmann and Lee. A goal of $100,000.00 gave birth to the Fund drive phrase, “THE JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND STEPS,” borrowed from a Chinese Philosopher, Lao-Tse of 550 BC vintage. The real beginning arrived October 14, 1963, when Mrs. Ruby Thompson of Lodi, became its first contributor. From that day to 1991, by many $'s, 1s, 5s, some 10s, occasional 100s, the Fund grew and grew to $18,000 coupled with some PAX World Monies, now equaled $81,579.32. A nice thing happened on June 19, 1991. Standard Process Laboratories, Inc. (Dr. Lee's Company), under the current President Frank Du Bois, presented to the WNFA the assets of their subsidiary, The Lee Foundation for Nutritional Research, now dissolved. A sum of $62,744.60 brought the end of the 'JOURNEY.” A sum total of $144,323.42.

In the 1995 NFA Annual Newsletter, Executive Director, Bill Francis, announced a need to reassess the NFA's financial position and their educational programs. The publication Natural Food and Farming, was temporarily discontinued. A Mission Statement as well as an Action Plan were drawn up. Then an article appeared in the January 1998 issue of Acres USA, reporting that NFA had closed shop and transferred its farm and headquarters property to Environmental Health Foundation of Dallas, Texas. The Foundation is a not-for-profit sales organization dealing in environmentally safe products.

A scramble ensued in the WNFA camp, questioning what, it any, umbilical cord existed with NFA??? directing any liabilities or responsibilities upon us. Much research revealed none existed. Again the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws were scrutinized and changed and reprinted in 1999.

Three consecutive WNFA Annual Meeting/Conferences in the late 1990s proved disastrous financially. A later Labor Day (normal meeting days are scheduled the weekend following Labor Day) disallowed regular exhibitors from attending as well as other interested parties from attending, hence, lower attendance and lower proceeds, thus, uncovered expenses. These experiences tempted the WNFA Directors to cancel further Conferences. The Annual Meetings continue but also showing low interest.

Another recent happening was the incorporation of the Organic Standards into the life of the natural cultivator. It rules that stipulate certain procedures which are followed to a “t”, one cannot boast (advertise verbally or written) about one's accomplishments using the word “Organic,” until that person goes through a certification verification. This concept has also coerced our Directors to abandon the Grower's Program. It did not make sense to verify a grower's accomplishments and not being able to boast about it.

The WNFA ventured into the airways by joining the internet with Norbert Norman hosting the activities in the year 2000. In 2003 we had our own web site hosted by Don Plier.

Researched by John Hoeting