Yearly Archives: 2024
Houlihan Receives Outstanding Contribution to Agriculture Award
WPVGA Executive Director honored for commitment to progress and success of agribusiness industry By Joe Kertzman, managing editor, Badger Common’Tater On March 4, Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) Executive Director Tamas Houlihan received the Outstanding Contribution to Agriculture Award from the Portage County…
Interview with Shawn Bula
By Joe Kertzman, managing editor, Badger Common’Tater A story of resilience, like the backstories of many farms and farmers, Signature Farms LLC, and under previous ownership as Bula-Gieringer Farms, has not only survived the usual daily curveballs thrown by Mother Nature, but also a tornado…
Shrimp & Potato Street Tacos
Column and photos by Mike Carter, chief executive officer, Bushmans’ Inc. Like many recipes, this one comes with a story. This story starts back in the fall of 2020 and ends with a win in the Potato Expo “Street & Potatoes: A Battle for the…
Draw of the Grower Education Conference & Industry Show is Stronger Than Ever
WPVGA & UW Division of Extension saw record attendance for trade show and researcher presentations By Joe Kertzman, managing editor, Badger Common’Tater There’s something special brewing in Wisconsin that has potato and vegetable growers, associated businesses, industry professionals, and the University of Wisconsin Extension buzzing.…
Interview with Kevin Sigourney
By Joe Kertzman, managing editor, Badger Common’Tater Building and maintaining relationships are the two things that Kevin Sigourney credits for carrying him a long way in his career as owner/operator of Sigourney Farm in Coloma, Wisconsin. Unlike many of his fellow potato and vegetable growers…
Potato Flake Rolls
Column and photos by Ali Carter, Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary It was a recent snowy, bitterly cold Sunday with a Packer game scheduled for the afternoon. After looking through the food stock available in the house, Mike and I decided that Asian-inspired meatball sliders would…
Potato Flake & Flour Plant Operating in Central Wisconsin
Top Tier Ingredients facility built by Pavelski family to meet growing customer needs. By Joe Kertzman, managing editor, Badger Common’Tater With knowledge and experience in the potato business dating back five generations, the Pavelski family of Heartland Farms, in Hancock, Wisconsin, is using that experience…
Interview with Wyatt Kram
By Joe Kertzman, managing editor, Badger Common’Tater In the northern plains of West Fargo, North Dakota, Crary Industries is best known in the Wisconsin potato and vegetable industry as home to Lockwood Manufacturing. With a history that includes sunflower seed and bean harvesting equipment, anhydrous…
Baked Eggs in Mashed Potatoes
Column and photos by Ali Carter, Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary We are a family that enjoys mashed potatoes as a regular staple at our dinner table. Because we do not wait for the holidays to serve up the creamy side dish, you can spy leftover…
Food + Farm Exploration Center Grand Opening Draws Enthusiastic Crowd
Board members, donors, legislators, growers, and the media got a first-hand look at the center By Joe Kertzman, managing editor, Badger Common’Tater The Food + Farm Exploration Center (FFEC) in Plover, Wisconsin, was buzzing with activity, November 30-December 2, during three Grand Opening events befitting…
