Mike Gerner

Mike Gerner, who has a home on Lake Mendota, has served on the Yahara Pride Farms, Inc., board since its inception.

Living on the lake since 1988, Mike became increasingly aware of water-quality problems, particularly the growth of algae blooms. That led him to join the Yahara Lakes Association in the late 1990s. That organization advocated for the interests of lake property owners.

He went on to serve as the organization’s president from 2007 to 2008, working to increase public support for cleaning up the watershed’s lakes. He also served on the Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission from 2009 to 2018.

The Clean Lakes Alliance was formed in 2010 to expand efforts to improve the water quality of the Madison-area lakes to a larger community effort. This included the development of an action plan and fundraising. Mike joined the alliance, serving as the chair of its community board.

The Clean Lakes Alliance recognized that agriculture was a key part of the solution to improving water quality and helped farmers in Dane County to establish Yahara Pride Farms.

The two groups shared services before Yahara Pride Farms became an independent organization. Yahara Pride Farms, along with the Clean Lakes Alliance, became a partner of the larger Yahara Watershed Improvement Network (Yahara WINS). 

Mike says the progressive farmers in the Yahara Pride Farms are making significant changes to their farming practices to help reduce phosphorus runoff.