By Joe Kertzman, managing editor, Badger Common’Tater
One of the nation’s premier potato and vegetable operations, Wysocki Produce Farm of Bancroft, Wisconsin, is an integral part of Wysocki Family of Companies, which also consists of RPE, Inc., Paragon Potato Farms, and as co-owners and partners, Tasteful Selections, LLC and Central Sands Dairy.
A family operation now in its second and third generations, Wysocki Produce Farm had its start when brothers Louis, Francis and Greg Wysocki partnered with their father on his small dairy farm and converted the operation into a potato growing business in the 1950s.
Over the years, crucial partnerships were formed with Nick and Dianne Somers of Plover River Farms and Jeff Sommers, who worked alongside the owners to propel the farm into a nationally renowned operation.
The Wysocki Family of Companies (WFC) ownership group consists of Russell, Jim, Gary and Bill Wysocki, Kirk Wille and Sommers.
“Louis and Avis Wysocki are my grandparents, Gary and Liz are my parents, and I have two younger siblings, Anna Hausler and Rosie Wysocki,” says Lucas Wysocki, assistant maintenance manager of Paragon Potato Farms.
With a degree in mechanical engineering and working towards a Master of Business Administration, the future looks bright for Lucas, but he doesn’t take anything for granted.
Lucas has been doing his due diligence in making the rounds through the WFC rotational program, working in and soaking up experience and knowledge in each facet of the operation.
He’s only been in his current role with Paragon Potato Farms for a few weeks, but he helps ensure the operations team is running the plant at maximum capacity and always has his eye on the end game.
