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  2. Employment & Training
  3. Job Seeker
  4. MSFW
  5. Migrant Labor Council

Governor's Council on Migrant Labor

The Governor's Council on Migrant Labor consists of:

  • six employer representatives,
  • six migrant representatives, and
  • four legislators.

The Council advises the Governor on issues affecting Migrant Seasonal Farm Workers (MSFW’s). Members serve three-year terms and are appointed by the Governor, with the exception of the legislative members. Legislative members must be appointed by their respective Caucus.

Duties of the Council include advising the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) on matters affecting migrant workers, ascertaining working conditions of migrants, ensuring coordination of federal and state statutes regarding migrant workers, and reviewing rules submitted by the Department.

Members meet quarterly and meetings are open to the public.

2025 Council Meeting Dates

All meetings are scheduled for 10:00 am unless otherwise noted.

  • Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025
  • Wednesday, April 30, 2025
  • Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025
  • Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025

For more information, please contact Kathryn Mueller at 608-733-3907 or Kathryn.Mueller@dwd.wisconsin.gov.

Members of the Governor's Council on Migrant Labor

Migrant Representatives

  • John I. Bauknecht, UMOS
  • Erica Sweitzer-Beckman, Legal Action of Wisconsin, Vice Chair
  • Laura Waldvogel, Family Health La Clinica
  • Jose Martinez, UMOS, Chair
  • Ben Obregon, UMOS and Legal Action Board of Directors Member

Migrant Employer Representatives

  • Erica Kunze, Lakeside Foods, Secretary
  • Kate Lambert, Nortera Foods, Inc.
  • Aimee Jo Castleberry, Seneca Foods Corporation
  • Carolyn Flyte, Flyte Family Farms
  • Andy Ferguson, Ferguson’s Orchard
  • Ashley Ahl, Northern Family Farms

Legislative Members

  • Senator Robert Wirch
  • Senator Cory Tomczyk
  • Representative Jodi Emerson
  • Assembly Republican - vacant

Ad Hoc Committee of the Governor's Council on Migrant Labor

Ad Hoc Committee on Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers

The purpose of this committee is to review and make recommendations on general migrant farmworker issues and concerns.

Committee Members:

  • Erica Sweitzer-Beckman, chair
  • John Bauknecht
  • Aimee Jo Castleberry
  • Erica Kunze
  • Kate Lambert
  • Jose Martinez
  • Laura Waldvogel

Ad Hoc Committee Meetings Dates:

All meeting materials and information on how to attend meetings can be found on the Wisconsin Public Meeting Notices & Minutes website.

Need an Alternate Format?

If you have comments regarding any documents on DET's website or need an alternate format, you may contact us via email at: detweb@dwd.wisconsin.gov