By Joe Kertzman, managing editor, Badger Common’Tater
There’s a familiarity and family atmosphere that permeates Baginski Farms, Inc., in Antigo, Wisconsin. That’s not a stretch. Mike Baginski, owner of the operation, is a fourth-generation potato grower and represents the third generation raising certified seed potatoes.
In 1962, Mike’s father, Ted Jr., his grandfather, Ted, and two uncles, John and Florian, transitioned from growing chip stock potatoes to seed potatoes. Through the years, they managed to create a solid business and a customer list that’s remained loyal to the seed potato farm.
Mike has surrounded himself with those who are familiar, trustworthy, and hard-working. Four of the guys in the operation—Mike, Brian Bolder, Jeff Sinkler and Cory Chrudimsky—all went to high school together. Mike, Cory and Brian are the same age, and Jeff was two grades ahead of them in school.
Charlie Husnick, whose mom worked with Mike’s father-in-law, began mowing lawns for Baginski Farms when he was 7 years old.
“Sometimes when mowing, I’d see the potato harvester and trucks coming down the road. I would time it just right so that I’d be mowing the very last strip of grass closest to the road when they all went by,” Husnick remembers.
Charlie wasn’t a total stranger to potato farming. His grandpa and great-uncle were table and chip stock growers but had retired, in 1999, when he was only five years old.
Twenty-six years later, Charlie is vice president of Baginski Farms, Inc., in Antigo, president of the Wisconsin Seed Potato Improvement Association Board of Directors and sits on the Finance & Policy Committee of the Potatoes USA Board of Directors, as well as on the United Potato Growers of Wisconsin Board of Directors.
