Field to Fenceline highlights conservation legacy, winter safety, wolf policy debate, and uncertain future for Knowles-Nelson

By David Ballerstein - Marshfield Now!
Wisconsin’s outdoor and conservation landscape was in the spotlight in the latest episode of Field to Fenceline, which opened with a remembrance of longtime conservation leader George Meyer and then turned to winter safety updates, federal wolf policy, and the state’s stalled funding for the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.

Remembering George Meyer
The episode noted the death of George Meyer earlier this month at age 78 after a lengthy battle with cancer, describing him as a prominent figure in Wisconsin conservation for more than five decades. Meyer served as a former secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and as the first executive director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, and was recognized for helping bring together citizens, lawmakers, conservation groups and agency leaders around the protection of natural resources.

The program also highlighted Meyer’s more recent involvement in work connected to the Vista Solar Sands Project, where he helped guide a settlement described as balancing large renewable energy development with protections for public lands and wildlife, including the state-threatened greater prairie chicken. The episode said Meyer was honored with a national lifetime achievement award recognizing his conservation strategy and policy work.

Winter conditions prompt ice safety reminder, early trail updates
As winter conditions vary across Wisconsin, the show urged residents to take extra care on the ice, noting that warm weather and rain can create unpredictable conditions. Viewers were encouraged to use safety tools such as a spud and ice picks and to be cautious as ice thickness can change significantly from one location to another.

The episode also reported that snowmobile trails in Vilas and Oneida counties opened Friday, with reminders that early-season riding comes with hazards. Riders were urged to stay on marked trails, be prepared for rough or thin coverage in spots, and to avoid lakes until routes are clearly marked by local clubs.

Wolf delisting bill expected to advance, Senate timing discussed
The show also covered a federal push to remove gray wolves from Endangered Species Act protections, saying the U.S. House was expected to vote around the time of the broadcast on the Pet and Livestock Protection Act. As described in the episode, the measure would delist the gray wolf and prevent judicial review.

The segment noted that the wolf debate has remained contentious for years and said the issue has intensified as wolves have expanded across Wisconsin, with the program citing more than 100 conflicts per year in parts of the state where wolves are present. The episode said a U.S. Senate vote was expected either before or directly after Christmas, and encouraged viewers to contact their lawmakers if they feel strongly about the issue.

Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program: “on the ropes” after zeroed-out funding
A major focus of the episode was Wisconsin’s Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, with guest Charlie Carlin of Gathering Waters (Wisconsin’s Alliance for Land Trusts) describing the program as “on the ropes” heading into 2026. Carlin said lawmakers included zero funding for the program in the state budget debated and signed this past summer — a development the episode described as the first time since 1990 that the program has lacked a funding agreement.

Carlin said the stewardship program, launched in 1989, has provided statewide support for conserving land and expanding outdoor recreation infrastructure, including trails, boat launches, campgrounds, and related public facilities. The program’s name, he said, reflects bipartisan roots — honoring former Gov. Warren Knowles, a Republican, and former Gov. Gaylord Nelson, a Democrat.

The episode said the program has supported roughly 10,000 projects across Wisconsin and cited an analysis that found most Wisconsin households live within a mile of a Knowles-Nelson-supported project. Examples mentioned included trail and recreation investments connected to the Ice Age Trail, Madison’s Cap City Trail, public amenities at Peninsula Park in Door County, and recreation projects in the Blufflands near La Crosse.

Despite what the show described as broad public support — including polling cited in the episode showing strong, cross-party backing for continued stewardship funding — Carlin said the issue remains stuck in state politics. He said narrow margins in the Legislature mean a bipartisan agreement is required, and described prior proposals as deadlocked.

Carlin said that without action, the program would run out of money on June 30, 2026. He said a one-year extension would move that date to June 30, 2027. The episode urged residents to contact legislators and pointed viewers to online tools and maps showing stewardship projects near their homes.

Field to Fenceline airs on Marshfield Broadcasting and highlights issues shaping Wisconsin’s outdoors — from conservation and land stewardship to recreation updates and policy debates.

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