At Midwest Environmental Advocates, we have the privilege of working alongside people from different communities across Wisconsin. Each of our clients has a unique story and their own reasons for stepping forward and taking action. What connects them is a shared determination to protect the people and the places they love.
For Kay Kashian, that place is the Rush River Valley. Moving there was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. Nestled near the banks of the scenic Rush River in Pierce County’s rolling countryside, she found a place where she could fully embrace the outdoor life she loves.
Although she grew up as a city kid, Kay has always felt connected to the land. She planted her very first garden when she was just six years old, and gardening remains one of the great joys of her life.
Together with her husband Phil, Kay established a rural retreat called Milk House Cottage and Gardens, where she continues to tend gardens that reflect decades of care, patience, and respect for the natural world.
Kay and Phil’s story stretches back decades. They first met in eighth grade and remained friends through high school before eventually going their separate ways. Over 40 years later, life brought them back together. During a shared fishing trip on the Rush River, they learned about a 38-acre property for sale, and it eventually became their home. Today, they describe their little corner of Pierce County as “paradise,” and they take great joy in sharing it with their guests.
The Rush River is at the center of daily life for Kay and Phil. They both love to kayak and fish for trout, and many of the guests who stay at their cottage are drawn to those same experiences. The area’s diverse natural habitats, including marshes and forested wetlands, make it a prime destination for birdwatching and wildlife observation. Visitors come for the clean water, quiet beauty, and sense of place that defines the valley—qualities Kay and Phil work hard to preserve and share.
Now, a nearby dairy farm’s plans to undertake a massive expansion has put all of that at risk. A concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) called Ridge Breeze Dairy plans to expand from roughly 1,700 cows to more than 6,500 cows. An operation of that size would produce nearly 80 million gallons of manure every year.
With representation from MEA, Kay joined with GrassRoots Organizing Western Wisconsin and other local residents to challenge a key permit issued to Ridge Breeze Dairy by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. They want state regulators to do more to protect local groundwater and surface water.
By getting involved in this case, Kay joins others from across Wisconsin who are stepping forward to protect the people and the places they love. From quiet river valleys to bustling urban neighborhoods, Wisconsinites are working together to secure their rights to a clean environment, and MEA is proud to be there standing with them!
