Although I am a delegate for the Wisconsin Youth Conservation Congress, I admittedly did not know much about the actual Wisconsin Conservation Congress. However, my mind was opened when I attended the WCC annual convention. The Wisconsin Conservation Congress is "the only statutory body in the state where citizens elect delegates to advise the Natural Resources Board and the Department of Natural Resources on how to responsibly manage Wisconsin's natural resources for present and future generations." There is not another program like it in the United States. Each county elects five representatives to advise the NRB and DNR, and every year they get together and vote on things and bring up new business. However, the annual conference hasn't been held since 2019 due to Covid concerns. This year's convention was held in Wisconsin Dells.
We arrived in the Dells and received our name tags and information. After, we sat in in the first meeting of the convention. Maddie and I met three out of the five delegates from La Crosse County, who were the nicest people ever. They showed us the wooded sign that had been used since the sixties, and all the delegates names that had been carved into it over the years. They also told us about conventions in the past, and their favorite was one in Cable at a hunting lodge. The meeting started with roll call, with the chairman calling out counties and a delegate yelling how many delegates were present. I learned of counties that I never knew existed. My takeaway is that I don't know where a lot of places in Wisconsin are.
After a few more people spoke, we got to hear from the DNR and the rules and regulations committee. They read off statements, and delegates voted on them, either aye or nay. If it sounded close, they would ask each county individually. However, if the rule doesn't pass, it still moves on to the DNR and NRB, but it is heavily noted that the WCC does not agree. This was the coolest part, as it was like hearing laws change in person, but a lot less crazy than the politics in DC. My favorite speaker was the secretary of the whole DNR, Preston Cole. He talked about how we need everyone working together to promote Wisconsin recreation and natural resources. We got to take a photo with him after the meeting, which was super cool.
One of the other things I learned about at the WCC was that they have different committees to take care of certain things. Some examples of these were the Bear Committee, the Great Lakes Committee, and the Deer and Elk Committee. I think it was a very good idea of them to do that. However, I don't believe you get much of a choice starting out what committee you get placed on, as over the weekend speakers placed an emphasis on doing your best no matter what committee you get placed on.
The WCC opened my eyes on how conservation policies actually get changed in Wisconsin. I think it's an essential program, and many more states should adopt this program. I would love to be on the WCC one day if I stay in Wisconsin.