MARK YOUR Calendar Planting Ideas

His enthusiasm was catchy. We were in Washington, D.C. for the National Potato Council (NPC) Washington Summit, and to “Stand up for Potatoes on Capitol Hill.” We had a job to do, and each of us was assigned topics to discuss with Wisconsin’s Congressional leaders that focused on issues affecting potato and vegetable growers in the state. Split into two groups of Wisconsin growers and WPVGA staff members, my group’s second meeting on Thursday, March 2, was to be with newly elected Rep. Derrick Van Orden. He made my day.

Rep. Van Orden had each of us sit at his desk and pose for a picture by NPC’s dedicated photographer for the week, Bill Schaefer, and act as if we were signing an important bill to be taken up for a vote. I tried to look semi-serious in the image above, but it was a nice lighthearted start to our meeting with Van Orden. It got better.

He told us about how he had a favorite agriculture saying by Daniel Webster that was painted above one of the doorways in the Capitol Building. He said he’d love to show it to us, but of course we were there to talk about the ag-related issues. He kept reverting back to the Daniel Webster quote until he finally blurted out, “I’ll show it to you. I’ll take you to the Capitol. You have time, don’t you?” By the looks of it, his own legislative assistant wasn’t sure he even had time that day, but Van Orden insisted, and we skipped lunch to go on an impromptu tour of the Capitol.

His enthusiasm spilled over as he showed us his favorite paintings, statues, rooms, and even a “secret stairwell” he used in the Capitol. When we finally got to Room H130, there, above the door, is this quote by Daniel Webster, dated 1840: “When tillage begins, other acts follow. The farmers therefore are the founders of human civilization.” Rep. Van Orden then had our entire group pose for a photo below the quote. For the full story on the Washington Summit and images of the visit, see the feature article herein.

Also see “Now News” for a report on the 2023 American Agriculture Appreciation Banquet, March 6, at the Holiday Inn & Convention Center in Stevens Point, and all the honorees as well as a special keynote speaker.

Please email me with your thoughts and questions. If you wish to be notified when our free online magazine is available monthly, here is the subscriber link: http://wisconsinpotatoes.com/blog-news/subscribe.

Joe Kertzman Managing Editor jkertzman@wisconsinpotatoes.com

NAME: Matt Patoka

TITLE: Part owner along with his father, Bill, and uncle, Gary Patoka

COMPANY: Patoka Farms, LLC

LOCATION: Amherst, WI

HOMETOWN: Amherst

YEARS IN PRESENT POSITION: Seven

PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT: Bob’s Plumbing and Heating as a journeyman plumber

SCHOOLING: Amherst High School and the journeyman’s course in plumbing

ACTIVITIES/ORGANIZATIONS: Amherst Fair Board

AWARDS/HONORS: Third Place State for National Corn Growers Association Yield Contest, several Pioneer Brand

Products Outstanding Corn Yield awards, McCain 2018 Champion Field

Direct—Class A, and McCain Pursuit of Excellence in Potato Production in the CropMET Program, 1999-2003

FAMILY: Wife, Jenni, and daughter, Ali (10 years old)

HOBBIES: Hunting, fishing, and snowmobiling