Outstanding
Women of Wisconsin Agriculture Part 2 of a 2-Part Series That Began in the April 2020 issue
An impressive group continues to further potato and vegetable production in the state By Joe Kertzman, managing editor, Badger Common’Tater Continuing a feature that began in the April Badger Common’Tater, two more spectacular women were interviewed this time, each of whom fills an important position or positions in the Wisconsin potato and vegetable growing industry.
HEIDI ALSUM-RANDALL
Chief Operating Officer, Production, Sales, Human Resources and Purchasing, Alsum Farms & Produce President of the Wisconsin Potato Industry Board The first female president of the Wisconsin Potato Industry Board (WPIB), Heidi Alsum-Randall is chief operating officer of Alsum Farms & Produce in Friesland, Wisconsin, concentrating on the production, sales, human resources and purchasing sides of the business.
On a state level, she has served as a director of the WPIB since July 2011 and as president beginning in 2014. Randall has been involved in the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) Promotions & Consumer Education Committee since 2006.
“I currently share the chief operating officer role with my sister, Wendy Alsum-Dykstra,” Randall says. “She oversees our logistics and maintenance divisions and is involved in the finance department.”
Beginning in 2015, she’s represented Wisconsin on the Potatoes USA Board of Directors, serving in various capacities, including on the Domestic Marketing Administrative Committee.
Randall, who has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management degree, worked as a recruiter for WPS Health Insurance Company and then as a fleet manager for deBoer Transportation. 24 BC�T May
In 2018, at the March Annual Meeting, she was elected to serve on the Potatoes USA Executive Committee as co-chair of the Industry Outreach Committee and continues to work in this capacity. “I have one year left of my six-year term on the Potatoes USA Board and
Not only is Heidi Alsum-Randall the firstever female president of the Wisconsin Potato Industry Board, but she also currently represents the state on the Potatoes USA Executive Committee.
have really enjoyed the opportunity to serve and interact with other growers, packers and shippers throughout the United States,” she says. When asked about being the first female president of the WPIB, Randall replies, “I’m humbled that I was able to earn the respect of the other WPIB directors to be asked to serve in this capacity.” PROGRESSIVE INDUSTRY “I think it also shows how progressive the potato industry and farmers in
