The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, among other things, sets the rules for the state's all important deer season. During the 2010 campaign, Gov. Scott Walker was critical of the state's deer management practices, an area of ongoing controversy that pits the interests of drivers, homeowners, farmers and others against those of hunters.

Farmers are among those with a keen concern because of serious crop damage the animals can cause. Ag interests are also concerned about conservation matters, groundwater protection and other issues.

As a candidate, Walker promised to give farmers a greater say in DNR matters. Walker pledged he would "ensure that at least one of the members of the Natural Resources Board comes from an agricultural background."

On May 1, 2011, he made three appointments to the DNR board, including William Bruins, a Waupun-area dairy farmer. Bruins is general manager of Homeland Dairy, a family run operation that milks 600 cows and has 1,300 acres of cropland.

In addition, Bruins is state president of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, the state's largest farm organization.

Bruins' term on the DNR board expires in 2017. His appointment by Walker is a Promise Kept.