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McCain Hosts Grower Awards Banquet After Hiatus

Top potato farms honored for crops produced in 2020 and ’21 growing seasons

The growers are finally getting their dues and recognition for crops grown during the pandemic and beyond, and it sure was nice to attend the McCain Grower Awards Banquet, February 2, 2023, at Sentry World in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

The awards banquet includes a dinner and has historically been held in November each year to recognize Wisconsin potato growers who excel in fulfilling their previous year’s contracts with McCain Foods.

Well, these haven’t been ordinary times over the last few years, so the banquet in February honored top potato farms for crops produced in the 2020 and ’21 growing seasons. Guests enjoyed a social hour before being ushered into the dining room by Morgan Smolarek, field manager of McCain Foods USA, for dinner and the awards banquet.

“Thank you for trusting us and working with us,” Smolarek simply stated before introducing the evening’s speakers and awards presenters, who included Andy Czahor, senior production manager and interim plant manager for McCain Foods.

Less Foreign Material

“Over the years, I’ve seen great improvement in a reduction of foreign material coming into the plant,” Czahor began. “McCain introduced a Halo optical sorter, so it’s not just on you growers, but on us, too. Your due diligence does a lot for us.”

Others addressing the growers were Mac Bean, McCain Foods research agronomist, and Daniel Metheringham, vice president of agriculture, North America.

“It’s great to see so many people here after COVID to celebrate the crops, as well as the ups and downs, and work and effort,” Metheringham said. “We’ve seen some good growth across the company, and it’s good to hear about the quality going into the plant.”

Above: Growers recognized for producing quality crops in the 2020 growing season pose with McCain Foods representatives at the February awards banquet. Standing from left to right are Cody Johnson, Mac Bean, Andy Czahor, Morgan Smolarek, Chad Kraft, Mike Johnson, Marshall Firkus, Nathan Bula, Mike Firkus, Gary Bula, Sam Ourada, Andy Dierks, Gene Gagas, Daniel Metheringham, Alex Rideout, Jim Waugh, Howie Marceau, Alex Chisholm, and Mary Lemere.

“There is excitement and potential for new potato varieties in this region,” Metheringham announced. “It’ll start ramping up in the next three to four years, which will help with disease pressure, storability, and sustainability.” continued on pg. 36

Considering the pandemic, and supply chain, shipping, inflation and input cost challenges in recent years, as well as evolving consumer expectations and demands, it was a nice note to end on before monetary awards and trophies were given to potato growers for another job well done.

Above: Crop Year 2021 award winners and McCain Foods representatives include, from left to right, Cody Johnson, Mac Bean, Andy Czahor, Morgan Smolarek, Chad Kraft, Mike Johnson, Randy Fleishauer, Curtis Gagas, Kiley Stucker, Sam Ourada, Brad Garner, Jim Mortenson, Daniel Metheringham, Alex Rideout, Jim Waugh, Howie Marceau, Alex Chisholm, and Mary Lemere.

Crop Years 2020 and 2021 Grower Champions

Champion Bruise Free—All GrowersBurbank/Umatilla—$1,000

Crop Year 2020: Gary Bula Farms

Crop Year 2021: Somers Management

Champion Grower—All GrowersRanger Russet—$2,000

Crop Year 2020: Signature Farms

Crop Year 2021: Mortenson Brothers Farms

Class AA Champion—$2,000 or a trip to a McCain Region in North America

Direct Delivery-Class AA +200,000 cwt.-Burbank/Umatilla

Crop Year 2020: RD Offutt Farms

Crop Year 2021: B&D Farms/Wisconsin Central

Class AA Reserve Champion—$1,000

Direct Delivery-Class AA <200,000 cwt.-Burbank/Umatilla

Crop Year 2020: B&D Farms/Central Wisconsin

Crop Year 2021: RD Offutt Farms

Class A Champion—$2,000 or a trip to a McCain Region in North America

Direct Delivery-Class AA +200,000 cwt.-Burbank/Umatilla

Crop Year 2020: Gagas Farms

Crop Year 2021: K&A Farms

Class A Reserve Champion—$1,000

Direct Delivery-Class AA <200,000 cwt.-Burbank/Umatilla

Crop Year 2020: Coloma Farms

Crop Year 2021: Gagas Farms

Storage Champion—$2,000 or a trip to a McCain Region in North America

Crop Year 2020: Firkus Farms

Crop Year 2021: Weekly Farms continued on