Wisconsin potato growers appreciate being part of the community and giving back. Here’s a taste of our efforts!
2022 (Presented in 2023)
Randy VanHaren
2021 (Presented in 2022)
Paul Miller
2020 (Presented in 2021)
Marv Worzella
Norm Worzella
2019 (Presented in 2020)
Larry Alsum
Dick Okray
2018 (Presented in 2019)
Dr. Keith Kelling
2022 (Presented in 2023)
Young Grower: Nicola Carey
Volunteer: Doug Posthuma
Researcher: Dr. James Busse
Associate Business Person: Julie Cartwright
Agri-Communicator: Jordan Lamb
President’s Award: Anna Okray
Industry Appreciation: Julie Braun
2021 (Presented in 2022)
Young Grower: Wendy Alsum-Dykstra
Volunteer: J.D. Schroeder
Researcher: Amber Walker
Associate Business Person: Rich Wilcox
Agri-Communicator: Dan Mahoney
President’s Award: Jolene Guenthner
Industry Appreciation: Ann MacGuidwin, Doug Rouse, Dana Rady
Charlie Berens and his mom share healthy and humorous banter as they work together to make potato salad using Wisconsin Potatoes!
Watch Now »Wisconsin is the 3rd largest potato-producing state, but also has another bragging point according to Charlie Berens.
Watch Now »Charlie Berens knows how impactful Wisconsin Agriculture is to the state!
Watch Now »Charlie Berens has the latest on Wisconsin Potato nutrition and why you should be sure to Buy Local and Buy Wisconsin!
Watch Now »Charlie Berens shares why it’s important to Buy Local and Buy Wisconsin Potatoes.
Watch Now »Science plays a huge role in getting Wisconsin Potatoes to your dinner plates. Just ask Charlie Berens!
Watch Now »Agriculture is a very technologically-advanced industry. Isn’t it Charlie Berens?
Watch Now »Well cripes alfrighty – there’s a new spud in town. And Ope! He sure has his work cut out for him after going through the Wisconsin Spudmobile!
Watch Now »Wisconsin farmers work hard to produce food for our family dinner tables! When you buy local, you are supporting your local economy and helping farmers feed your family.
Watch Now »Wisconsin Potatoes are perfect for preparing your body before and recovering from physical activity! With the high levels of vitamins and minerals they provide naturally, you can’t go wrong! NHL All Star and Two-time Olympian Joe Pavelski knows from experience as he shares in this commercial.
Watch Now »On October 22, WPVGA hosted and recorded a WebEx seminar on Year-End Tax Planning, sponsored by Lincoln Financial Advisors Agribusiness Services, and featuring Attorney Rhett Holland of Husch Blackwell LLP. Many of today’s favorable tax provisions are scheduled to “sunset” on December 31, 2025. But depending on the results of the November election, and the need to raise revenue to pay for the COVID recovery, these changes may happen as soon as 2021. This presentation explored the steps growers, packers and business owners may take this year to maximize savings under the current law and help preserve their operation for future generations. Special thanks to Lincoln Financial Advisors Jeff DeWald and Art Littlefield for bringing this business seminar to the WPVGA.
Watch Now »The 2019 D.C. Fly-in brought some interesting smiles as the Wisconsin Senator began juggling potatoes.
Watch Now »Grower Nick Somers of Plover River Farms works with Tracy Hames of the Wisconsin Wetlands Association to preserve and protect the wetlands on their farm.
Watch Now »Insect pollinators will soon find more homes on potato and vegetable farms.
About 20 acres of habitat for insect pollinators will be established in central and southwest Wisconsin this fall, thanks to a cost-matching agreement between four large potato farms and Sand County Foundation, a conservation organization working with agricultural landowners.
Read More »The Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) is pleased to present a 2015 Fat Bob Harley Davidson to the winner of the 2016 Wisconsin potatoes display contest. The Harley is in the state’s Northwoods, and specifically, Trig’s in Rhinelander.
On November 28th, 2016, members of WPVGA Promotions Committee presented the motorcycle to Trig’s at the Rhinelander store.
Press Release Here »Mother Nature has hit the southern United States with a number of hurricanes this season, the worst of which was Hurricane Irma which struck the Florida Coast, leaving thousands without everyday essentials.
Wisconsin’s potato and vegetable industry is answering the call for help, sending a truckload of potatoes and onions to the Harry Chapin Food Bank in Fort Myers, Florida, mid-October.
Press Release Here »The Wellers Walk is a unique event that offers participants the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the villagers in Cameroon, Africa, fetching water from the river to fill empty jugs and then hauling them back to the starting point (about 2 miles)! The event raises money to build wells in African cities, therefore, preventing women and children from walking long distances to retrieve clean water for their families. WPVGA donated $2500 to this annual event.
UWSP Chancellor Bernie Patterson introduces the Spud Bowl Scholarship winners at halftime of the Spud Bowl game in Stevens Point. Also pictured are members of the Spud Bowl Committee including Ann Ninnemann, Tamas Houlihan and Dianne and Nick Somers of Plover River Farms. There were five Spud Bowl scholarships awarded at $750 each (one recipient is not pictured).
WPVGA regularly supports events and causes throughout the state.
Wisconsin Potato growers provide high-quality potatoes that are nutritious and provide the most nutrients per penny, which makes them outstanding in the field. These facts are included in WPVGA’s Farm to Fork commercial.
Watch Now »There are many businesses that are heavily involved in agriculture in an indirect way. At WPVGA, those businesses are members of the Associate Division, and they “Thank the Farmer” in this WPVGA commercial.
Watch Now »Studies show that trees use more water than vegetables and Wisconsin potato growers use precise amounts of water on their crops only when and where it’s needed.
The facts are here in WPVGA’s Water commercial.
WPVGA donates a potato-friendly salad bar to South Park Middle School in Oshkosh and offers Farm to School presentations about the industry to 6-8th graders.
Eagle River Seed Farm LLC in Eagle River, Wisconsin, and Gumz Muck Farms in Endeavor, Wisconsin, are feeding people in the state and Midwest by collaborating with the WPVGA and Feeding America on a donation of 1800 cwt (four semi loads) of potatoes to various food banks.
The donation began as seed potatoes produced for a USDA-funded research grant in Wisconsin’s Northwoods region of Eagle River and is now feeding families in Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska and Tennessee.
Hundreds of volunteers pack more than 100,000 servings of potato meals at the Auxiliary’s hosted Feed My Starving Children event. The meals are filled with dehydrated potatoes and other nutrients, which are essential to feed infants 7-12 months who are transitioning from their mother’s milk to solid foods.
Volunteers from across the Wisconsin Potato industry gather at Lambeau Field with the Spudmobile to hand out 800-1,000 samples of potato dishes before football games.
The Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary worked with schools in southern Wisconsin to have the Spudmobile go on a mini tour and visit several schools in the area. Several Auxiliary members also volunteered to help out at each school event, spreading word of Wisconsin Potatoes.
The WPGA Board and the WPVGA Associate Division once again partner equally to invest in tomorrow’s leaders by awarding eight outstanding scholars with scholarships amounting to a total of $8,000. The students earning scholarships are Kaitlin Kakes, Kaitlin Woyak, Lauren Sowinski, Nika Wanserski, Rachel Rine, Rachel Smith and Stephanie Fassbender.
The WPVGA is the proud sponsor of the Portage County Youth Soccer Program this year. A $400 donation helped pay for the green T-shirts sported by Sam Molski and his son, Grant, shown warming up at the soccer complex on Stevens Point’s east side. The WPVGA sponsors a team in the 5-6 year-old division. Heartland Farms, Inc. of Hancock also sponsors a team.
WPVGA Board Member and Former Board President Andy Wallendal co-authors article on responsible water use. The article explains farmers’ dedication to Mother Nature and conserving her resources.
Read Now »WPVGA donates $1,000 toward cancer research at the Pink Game, held the same day as the Spud Bowl in Stevens Point in September 2015.