23 minute read
EYES ON ASSOCIATES
3rd Annual Sporting Clays Tourney Hits the Mark
WPVGA Associate Division continues winning streak with a successful event at the Wausau Skeet & Trap Club
By Joe Kertzman, managing editor, Badger Common’Tater
Above: To kick off the 3rd Annual WPVGA Associate Division Sporting Clays event at the Wausau Skeet and Trap Club, participant shooters gathered around Tim Kuski (blue shirt, center, in the V of the main tree), past president of the Wausau Skeet & Trap Club, as he went over the ground rules and gave safety tips and suggestions.
Successful in more ways than one, not only did a beautiful
fall day dawn on the 3rd Annual Sporting Clays Shoot hosted by the WPVGA Associate Division, October 20, 2022, but a record 30 teams participated, including more than 115 shooters traversing the 75-target course.
With registration beginning promptly at 12:30 p.m. and a shotgun start at 1:30 p.m., registration included one round of sporting clays, dinner, drink tickets and entry into door prize drawings. While sponsored bags with three boxes of shells were provided for each registered participant, most shooters brought their own 12- or 20-guage shotguns. Eye and ear protection were required, and shooting vests were available at the course. Twenty volunteer coaches walked the course with the teams, assisting novices, ensuring safety, and making suggestions on shooting stances and techniques for participants regardless of experience level. With 30 teams and a 15-station course, participants had the chance to visit with other team members at each shooting stand while awaiting their turn. Gift bags, door prizes and a nice meal catered by Swine and Dine rounded out the day, with a sizeable crowd staying for refreshments, camaraderie, and some good-natured ribbing from the trophy winners. Speaking of trophy winners, the top finishers in the 3rd Annual Sporting
Clays Shoot and their scores are as follows:
TROPHY RESULTS:
1st Place – Female: Erin Meister, 32 2nd Place – Female: Tia Leonhard, 28 1st Place – Male: Amos French, 65 2nd Place – Male: Josh Spacek, 64
Top Team – Big Iron Equipment:
Bill Zelinski, Zach Mykisen, Luke Zelinski and Kevin Groshek, 178 A fundraiser for the Associate Division of the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association, with money effectively used to support the industry throughout the year, the 3rd Annual Sporting Clays Shoot netted nearly $7,000. Judging by the doubling of the number of teams and positive feedback from shooters and participating companies, the industry will likely stay fully involved in years to come and enjoy a nice annual day in the woods shooting sporting clays.
Left: George Helbach (yellow hat) waits for the orange clay to come into his shooting lane at the 3rd Annual Sporting Clays Shoot in Wausau. Right: Playing for AgGrow Solutions at the Sporting Clays Shoot are, from left to right, Bo Wink, Kenton Mehlberg, Andy Verhasselt and Matt Badtke of Del Monte.
continued on pg. 32
Celebrating
Shown both shooting and posing with her plaque, Tia Leonhard of Mid-State Truck Service took second place in the women’s division at the Sporting Clays Shoot with a score of 28.
Above: Holding a much-coveted Mr. Potato Head traveling trophy fashioned by Andy Verhasselt, the Top Team in the Sporting Clays Shoot was Big Iron Equipment with a score of 178. Representing the team are, from left to right, Zach Mykisen, Bill Zelinski, Luke Zelinski, and Kevin Groshek. Below: Playing for Baginski Farms, Craig Rogan takes aim at a sporting clay.
Representing one of two Coloma Farms teams are, from left to right, Crystal Diercks, Candice Foemmel, Dave Zeuhlke, and Joe Smith.
With a score of 65 and representing one of two Seneca Foods teams, Amos French was the top male finisher in the Sporting Clays Shoot.
Erin Meister took 1st Place in the female division with a score of 32.
Second Place in the male division belonged to Josh Spacek with a score of 64.
Playing for one of five Allied Coop/Pest Pros teams, Curt Goman has a bead on a sporting clay in the far distance. The trio representing Bushman’s Riverside Ranch is, from left to right, Jeff Suchon, Spencer Schwartz, and Jared Suchon.
continued on pg. 34
Shooting for one of two Jay-Mar, Inc. teams are, from left to right, Jessica Groholski, Kenzie McNichols, Mike Sikorski, and Kadyn Peterson. Mike is also shown shooting at a sporting clay.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Adams-Columbia Electric Cooperative AgGrow Solutions Big Iron Equipment Bushmans’, Inc. Condon Oil First State Bank Mid-State Truck Service Mike Caves Rust Stop Nutrien Ag Solutions Prevail Bank – Stevens Point T.I.P., Inc. Volm Companies Warner & Warner
By WPVGA Associate Division President Julie Cartwright, Jay-Mar, Inc.
It’s always a challenge to find entertainment for the Grower Education Conference & Industry Show Banquet that is fresh, relevant to our industry and engaging. This year, the WPVGA Associate Division is excited to announce that Greg Peterson, spokesman for Peterson Farm Brothers, will be speaking at our Industry Show Banquet, February 8, 2023, at the Holiday Inn, Stevens Point. The Peterson Farm Brothers advocate for agriculture internationally. They started with one music video parody to the song, “I’m Sexy and I Know It,” appropriately titled, “I’m Farming and I Grow It,” to show some of their urban friends what agriculture is about. The video went viral, and they have been doing more videos and public speaking venues, continuing to promote agriculture worldwide ever since. I had the opportunity to hear Greg speak at the opening program of the Wisconsin Agri-Business Association (WABA) Classic several years ago and it was very inspirational and entertaining. I’m glad that we were able to coordinate with him for the Industry Show Banquet in February and I hope that everyone will attend and enjoy his presentation! You can learn more about the Peterson Farm Brothers at their website https:// petersonfarmbrothers.com. Julie Cartwright
WPVGA Associate Division President
Fries and Baked Potatoes Warm Football Fans
Comfort food is a popular annual tradition at the typically chilly Spud Bowl
By Dana Rady, WPVGA Director of Promotions and Consumer Education
On a cool and gloomy day, there is nothing better than a delicious and warm dish that comforts you to the core. A dish that makes you want to relax with a good movie or book while satisfying your tastebuds and filling your belly with flavor is the true definition of comfort food. Granted, those who came to Goerke
Above: As Chet Biadasz (left) keeps the French Fries coming, Nick Somers of Plover River Farms Alliance and Wayne Solinsky (right) of Jay-Mar Inc. fill cardboard boats for hungry football fans at the 26th Annual Spud Bowl, in Stevens Point.
Left: Sporting a Spud Bowl T-shirt and Powered By Wisconsin Potatoes hat, Easton Rady, 7-year-old son of WPVGA Promotions Director Dana Rady, gets ready to hand out Point Root Beer, courtesy of Point Brewery in Stevens Point. Right: The lines begin for free baked potatoes and French fries at the 36th Annual Spud Bowl in Stevens Point.
Field in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, October 15, for the 36th Annual Spud Bowl couldn’t curl up with a blanket for a good flick or book. But they did get the opportunity to participate in a Spud Hunt to win various prizes upon finding “golden potatoes” while also satisfying their comfort food cravings with the perfect potato combinations. All they had to do was buy a ticket to the game that kicked off at 1 p.m. for free baked potatoes and French fries. Wisconsin potatoes, baked to perfection along with hearty toppings like butter, sour cream, salt, pepper, and chili took the chill out of the air. And crispy fries hot out of the fryer with just the right amount of salt were the ideal addition.
continued on pg. 38
Left: Sisters Samiya (left) and Samaya (right) Armstead happily pose with their French fries and baked potatoes. Their brother, Sam, is a UW-Stevens Point wide receiver. RIght: Elliott Bocanegra (right) found a “golden potato” during the Spud Hunt and turned it in to Spud Bowl Committee member Dianne Somers (left) of Plover River Farms Alliance for two Culver’s ice cream tokens. Elliott’s dad, Lorenzo Bocanegra, is an inside linebacker coach for UW-Stevens Point.
Nutrien Ag Solutions would like to thank our growers for your support in 2022.
WE WISH YOU ALL A Safe and Happy Holiday Season!
Plainfield, WI | 715.366.4181
Hamerski Farms, in Plover, donated 560 baked potatoes and McCain Foods, Plover, donated 1,300 servings of French fries. Additionally, Chippewa Valley Bean in Menomonie donated chili as an additional topping for the potatoes. This was the first year for Chippewa Valley Bean’s involvement in the Spud Bowl, and the chili that company representatives brought couldn’t have been more well received. Given the cooler weather, the chili added another comfort-food element to the offerings of the day. There were some attendees who even put the chili on their French fries, along with butter and sour cream, for a spin on the famous and popular Poutine dish!
POINT ROOT BEER
And to help wash down the potatoes and fries, Point Brewery of Stevens Point donated Point Root Beer. Although the University of Wisconsin (UW)-Stevens Point Pointers lost to UW-Stout 55-0, the Spud Bowl Committee was happy to give away all the fries and every potato except for 50. Additionally, there were five students who were recognized as the 2022 Spud Bowl Scholarship recipients. Teanna Draeger of Marathon; Victoria Hasenohrl, Auburndale; Alyssa Kirsling of Amherst; Derek Marten from Stratford; and Rose Paul, Edgar, each received $1,000 to put towards their secondary education. More than $112,000 has been given to UW-Stevens Point students in scholarships over the years thanks to businesses and organizations in the Wisconsin potato and vegetable industry that sponsor the Spud Bowl each year (see the sponsor list herein). The students, who must come from
Left: Unfortunately, the UW-Stevens Point Pointers were mashed by their rival UW-Stout Blue Devils 55-0 in this year’s Spud Bowl game. RIght: Spud Bowl attendees didn’t hesitate to take a serving of French fries along with a baked potato that they happily loaded with butter, sour cream, and chili, the latter courtesy of Chippewa Valley Bean in Menomonie.
UW-Stevens Point Chancellor Thomas Gibson (center) shoots Spud Bowl T-shirts into the crowd at halftime of the game with the help of Nick Somers (left) and Tamas Houlihan.
agricultural and farming backgrounds UW-Stevens Point Women’s Hockey Coach Ann Ninnemann, who has been a Spud Bowl to be considered for scholarships, liaison over the years, was inducted into the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame in September each set themselves apart from an 2022, and the Spud Bowl Committee presented a $100 gift certificate in recognition of her impressive group of Stevens Point accomplishment during the game. From left to right during the gift certificate presentation service area applicants. are: Tony Grapsas; Nick and Dianne Somers; WPVGA Director of Promotions & Consumer Education Dana Rady; Dave Pias, who secured root beer from Point Brewery; Dale Bowe; Appreciation goes out to those who Wayne Solinsky; Ann; Tamas Houlihan; and Joshua Johnson and Rollin Metzger of Chippewa volunteered at the Spud Bowl, such Valley Bean. as Cliff and Carole Gagas for baking the potatoes and Chet Biadasz who took care of frying the French fries. Thank you to Spud Bowl coordinator Ann Ninnemann, who is also the UW-Stevens Point women’s hockey coach. Ann was recognized by the Spud Bowl Committee for being inducted into the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame in September 2022. The Spud Bowl Committee presented a $100 gift certificate in recognition of her accomplishment during the game. 22-12 Badger Common'Tater (7x5).v1.pdf 1 2022-11-09 10:34 AM continued on pg. 40
2022 Spud Bowl Scholarship Recipient Biographies
Teanna Draeger
Teanna is a business administration major from Marathon, Wisconsin. Teanna decided to attend college when she was nervous about what the future was for her family farm. She was planning for the worst and possible shutdown of the farm due to the economy, but the family operation is now expanding, and she is strategizing ways to help in the continued success. Following graduation at UW-Stevens Point (UWSP), she would eventually like to be a part-time owner of the family dairy farm. She didn’t envision this as her path when she started college but is excited for the journey and cannot see herself ever walking away from the family farm.
Victoria Hasenohrl
Victoria is a sophomore at UWSP studying elementary and early childhood education. She is looking to teach children where our food comes from in addition to sharing so many life lessons she has learned from farming, including how hard work and persistence pay off. She was heavily involved in FFA and 4-H in high school. Her family is involved in buying market hogs and showing and selling them at the local Central Wisconsin State Fair, as well as raising steers. Her main goal upon graduation is to get a teaching job back in her hometown of Auburndale, and more importantly, make a positive impact on children’s lives.
Alyssa Kirsling
Alyssa is a graduate of Amherst High School, finishing with a 4.0 grade
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Left: Deserving UW-Stevens Point students with farming and agriculture backgrounds were each awarded $1,000 scholarships funded by the Wisconsin potato industry at halftime of the game. Present for the scholarship presentations were, from left to right: WPVGA Executive Director Tamas Houlihan; Spud Bowl Committee members Nick and Dianne Somers of Plover River Farms Alliance; Committee members Cliff and Carole Gagas of Gagas Farms Inc.; scholarship winners Rose Paul, Alyssa Kirsling, and Derek Marten; and UWStevens Point Chancellor Thomas Gibson and his daughter, Kennedy. The other two scholarship winners who could not be present at halftime are Teanna Draeger and Victoria Hasenohrl.
point average. Farming is the main reason why she is majoring in paper science and chemical engineering at UWSP. She recognizes the important role of engineering in development of new chemicals for farming and the wide-ranging impact those chemicals have on the harvest of crops. Her dream would be to one day research essential chemicals and further identify healthier substitutes that will benefit the environment, crop, and those who consume the crop. Her parents are first-generation farmers, which has led to many life lessons learned and the motivation to give back to the farming community in some way shape or form after graduation.
Derek Marten
Derek is a Stratford, Wisconsin, native majoring in pre-med/ clinical lab science with a minor in chemistry. He competes on the UWSP wrestling team. Derek has been working on various farms for almost 15 years, with responsibilities ranging from harvesting and drying ginseng to soil preparation and planting crops, maintenance, and quality checks. As a sixth-generation farmer, he hopes to help is brother with the farm to continue the tradition of his family. Upon graduation, Derek has a goal of being a doctor in the sports medicine field to assist those who are injured in sport and help them heal.
Thank You to This Year’s Spud Bowl Sponsors
AgCountry Farm Credit Services; Agricair Flying Service, Inc.; Allen Supply Company, Inc.; Allied Cooperative; Anderson O-Brien, LLP; Big Iron Equipment, Inc.; BioLife Plasma Services; BMO Harris; Bushmans’ Inc.; Bushman’s Trucking; Calcium Products Incorporated; Central Door Solutions, Inc.; CliftonLarsonAllen; Compeer Financial; Del Monte Corporation; Delta Dental; First State Bank; Gagas Farms, Inc.; Guth Farm, Inc.; Hamerski Farms, Inc.; Heartland Farms, Inc.; International Bank of Amherst; Jay-Mar, Inc.; Jordan Lamb of DeWitt LLP; Lands’ End, Inc.; Len Dudas Motors; Mortenson Bros Farms, Inc.; Nutrien Ag Solutions, Inc.; Oak Grove Farms, Inc.; Okray Family Farms; Omernik & Associates, Inc.; Paragon Potato Farms, Inc.; Plover River Farms, Inc.; Portage County Dairy Committee; Potato Plant, Inc.; Prevail Bank; Riesterer & Schnell, Inc.; Roberts Irrigation Co., Inc.; Rural Mutual Insurance - C&D Professional Services; Soik Sales; Spectra Print Corporation; TH Agri-Chemicals, Inc.; Volm Companies; Warner & Warner Inc.; Wisconsin Public Service Corp.; WoodTrust Bank; Worzella & Sons; Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA); WPVGA Associate Division; and Wysocki Family of Companies.
Rose Paul
Rose hails from Edgar, Wisconsin, and was a 2018 recipient of the Spud Bowl Scholarship. She was raised on a fourth-generation family dairy farm. The farm has over 500 animals and 180 milking dairy cows, and Rose continues to help whenever she has time amid her schooling and clinical hours. After graduation in the spring, she intends to be a certified athletic trainer to help others and create good relationships and lasting outcomes for her patients. Her time growing up on the farm has led to a strong work ethic and communication skills that will directly impact her future medical career.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering financial assistance for specialty crop growers through its Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) program.
The website link below will take you through who is eligible to receive this assistance, how much money is available and how to apply for it. All relevant information should be contained within this website and its links, but for more information or questions, please contact your local USDA service center. Visit: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/ news-room/news-releases/2022/ usda-announces-assistance-foron-farm-food-safety-expensesfor-specialty-crop-growers?utm_ campaign=0617foodsafetynr&utm_medium=email&utm_ source=govdelivery.
Register Today for the 2023 WPVGA Grower Education Conference & Industry Show
Nominations being accepted for the 2022 WPVGA Associate Division Business Person of the Year
Photocopy these forms, fill them out and fax, mail or email them to the addresses given in each form, or visit https://wisconsinpotatoes.com/ events/wpvga-uw-madison-divisionof-extension-grower-educationconference-industry-show/ and scroll down to download Individual or Group Registration Forms.
WPVGA & UW-Madison Division of Extension Grower Education Conference & Industry Show
February 7-9, 2023 Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center, Stevens Point, WI Individual Registration Form
(One registrant per sheet. Please type or print.)
Registrant Name:
Company Name:
Mailing Address:
Phone Number:
Email Address:
On or Before January 20, 2023
WPVGA Members Non-WPVGA Members
$100
$50
$50
$35
Steak $50
Chicken Cordon Bleu $140
$65
$65
$50
Steak $50
Chicken Cordon Bleu
REGISTRATION
After January 20, 2023
WPVGA Members Non-WPVGA Members
Full Conference
(includes lunches) $115
Tuesday Only
(includes lunch) $55
Wednesday Only
(includes lunch) $55
Thursday Only
(includes lunch) $40 $165
$70
$70
$55
Industry Banquet
(Wednesday evening) Steak $50
Chicken Cordon Bleu Steak $50
Chicken Cordon Bleu
Total Due
$_________ $_________ Payment by Check Payment by Credit Card Credit Card Type:
Please make checks payable to WPVGA. Visa MasterCard Discover American Express
Cardholder
Name: ____________________________________
Mail completed form with payment to: Card Number:
WPVGA P.O. Box 327 Antigo, WI 54409
Phone: (715) 623-7683 Expiration Date: _______ / ________ Verification Code: _________ Email this form to jbraun@wisconsinpotatoes.com or mail to:
WPVGA P.O. Box 327 Antigo, WI 54409
SUPPORT YOUR FELLOW WPVGA MEMBERS
When you need goods or services, please consider asking our Associate Division Members for quotes or explore what they have to offer. Together, we make a strong organization and appreciate how wonderful we are as a group.
73rd Annual WPVGA Associate Division Industry Banquet
5:15 p.m. Cocktails (cash bar) • 6:00 p.m. Dinner Followed by awards ceremony
One free cocktail with each ticket purchased! $1,500 in Cash Prizes to be Given Away
$500 Grand Prize | Over 10 cash prize winners!
Must be present during entertainment to win. Entertainment by Greg Peterson of the
Greg Peterson is a 2013 graduate of Kansas State University where he majored in Agricultural Communications and Journalism and minored in Music Performance. He grew up and still works on his family farm near Assaria, KS. In 2012, Greg founded the “Peterson Farm Brothers” with his siblings. The videos that have resulted have received 200 million views in 10 years and have led to an increased role in agricultural advocacy for Greg. Greg and his brothers have had many opportunities to promote agriculture around the world. Their goal is still to operate the family farm together, but hope to make a positive impact with their social media content. PetersonFarmBrothers.com
Get your tickets now!
Contact the WPVGA Office at (715) 623-7683 or visit WisconsinPotatoes.com for details.
SpudPro Committee Names New Variety
Portage Russet is a dual-purpose variety for the processing and fresh markets
At its annual meeting on November 1, the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) SpudPro Committee named its newest variety to “graduate” out of the National Fry Processing Trial. “Portage Russet was named for Portage County, a major potato growing region in the Central Sands of Wisconsin,” says Jeffrey Endelman, an associate professor in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Horticulture who leads the potato variety development program. “The word ‘portage’ means the carrying of a boat between two
continued on pg. 46
Portage Russet exhibits a uniform and narrow size distribution, low incidence of misshapen tubers, a light skin color and a high percentage of U.S. #1 tubers. Image courtesy of Maria Caraza-Harter ALLAN EQUIPMENT CROP CART, SPEED UP PLANTING AND HARVEST.
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bodies of water, which is appropriate for this variety because it can go between two end uses—processing and the fresh market,” Endelman remarks. Field Year 2 foundation seed of the variety was produced in 2022 through the Wisconsin SpudPro program. The mission of the WPVGA SpudPro Committee is to advance the state’s potato breeding lines to variety status by providing foundation seed as a platform for industry review, adoption, and commercialization. “For years, potato breeders and producers alike have chased the almost mythical option of a true dual-purpose russet,” says Mike Copas, chairman of the SpudPro Committee and a senior agronomist for Wysocki Family of Companies.
PROCESS & FRESH MARKET
“A russet that can function both within the process sector of our
Using the Artificial Intelligence (AI) software DALL-E 2, the Endelman Lab created this playful image to promote the variety. The image of two American farmers portaging a giant russet potato over their shoulders like a canoe plays off the word “portage” in Portage Russet.
industry and the fresh table market has been an elusive target,” he says. “Portage Russet has several characteristics that provide positive benefits to the fresh market, which include a very uniform or narrow size distribution, lower incidence of misshapen tubers, a lighter skin color that is more akin to Silverton Russet and is appealing to consumers, and a high percentage of U.S. #1 tubers,” Copas details. “The higher starch content lends itself to a flourier texture that is most commonly, and positively, associated with mashed or baked potatoes,” Copas adds. “This contrasts with the waxier texture of a Russet Norkotah.” “I think that Portage Russet has a chance to provide the dual-purpose option for producers and their customers,” Copas concludes. With attributes like high marketable yields, specific gravity that falls between Burbank and Ranger russets, and long dormancy and resistance to cold sweetening, therefore good for storage, Portage Russet holds promise as a dual-purpose option. “If producers could grow Portage Russet to fulfill their obligation under a processing contract, but also have the flexibility to move any overage or additional production into the more fluid fresh market arena,” Copas proposes, “they are much more likely to maximize their return to the farm gate.”
Above: These Portage Russet potatoes were harvested from the Hancock Agricultural Research Station.
