Western Wisconsin needs representation that understands our farms, small towns, veterans, and working families. Congressman Derrick Van Orden has shown that he is willing to bring attention and resources back home where they belong. Whether meeting with farmers in the district, serving on the House Agriculture Committee, or working on veterans’ issues, he has made clear that rural Wisconsin deserves a strong voice in Washington.

One of the clearest examples is his work on agriculture. Van Orden has engaged directly with farmers across western Wisconsin, including roundtables and farm visits with U.S. Department of Agriculture leadership, to highlight the real pressures producers face: fertilizer costs, crop insurance, labor shortages, market access, and export challenges. Those are not abstract policy debates here; they are kitchen-table issues for families whose livelihoods depend on weather, markets, labor availability, and fair rules. His support for the Farm, Food, and National Security Act reflects a commitment to strengthening crop insurance, improving market access, and addressing workforce needs that matter deeply to Wisconsin agriculture.

Van Orden has also been a strong advocate for Wisconsin dairy. His backing of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act recognizes both common sense nutrition and the importance of dairy farmers to our state’s economy. He has spoken up for expanding dairy opportunities, supporting dairy innovation, and keeping Wisconsin competitive in the agricultural marketplace. In a district where agriculture is not just an industry but a way of life, that matters.

His focus does not stop at the farm gate. Van Orden has supported investment in rural broadband, transportation improvements, community development grants, and other infrastructure priorities that help small towns grow and stay connected. Reliable internet, safe roads, and strong local services are essential if rural communities are going to keep young families, support businesses, and compete in today’s economy.

As a Navy SEAL veteran, Van Orden also brings personal understanding to veterans’ issues. He has emphasized better access to VA services, stronger rural veteran outreach, mental-health resources, and modernization of benefits processing. Veterans in western Wisconsin should not have to fight bureaucracy after already serving their country, and his work on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee is an important part of making sure they receive the care, benefits, and respect they have earned.

I also appreciate that Van Orden regularly returns to the district for listening sessions, town halls, business visits, and farm visits. Accessibility matters. Constituents may not always agree with every vote, but they deserve a representative who shows up, listens, and carries local concerns to Washington.

For western Wisconsin, the priorities are clear: protect family farms, strengthen rural communities, support veterans, improve infrastructure, and keep government focused on practical results.
Congressman Derrick Van Orden has worked on those priorities through farm bill engagement, dairy advocacy, veterans legislation, rural development, and national security efforts. That is why I support his continued service and believe he deserves credit for bringing needed attention and resources to western Wisconsin.