By Joe Kertzman, Managing Editor, Badger Common’Tater
Family is what holds together a sixth-generation seed potato farm, along with hard work, relationship building, knowledge, some luck, lifelong employees, friends, and customers, and the foresight to embrace innovation and pass knowledge down from one generation to the next.
That’s according to John and Jim Mattek of J.W. Mattek & Sons in Deerbrook, Wisconsin, located in the heart of the state’s quality foundation and certified seed potato acreage that also includes Antigo, Bryant, Crandon, Crivitz, Eagle River, Rhinelander, and Rice Lake, among other towns and regions.
Since the 1800’s, farming has been a way of life for the Mattek family. James W. Mattek operated a dairy and potato business. His sons, Eugene and James J. Mattek, concentrated their efforts on potatoes and were early pioneers in the certified seed program.
In 1960, the farm became incorporated and continued to raise quality foundation and certified seed potatoes.
James J. Mattek’s sons, John and Jim, currently own and operate the 1,600-acre potato farm on a three-year crop rotation with oats and clover. The Mattek’s are always looking for new and promising varieties.
Family continues to hold the farm together, including Jim’s son, Charlie, John’s son, Matt, and their nephew, Mitch, becoming integral parts of the multi-generational certified seed potato farm.
