SEED PIECE

Golfers Hit the Links for 2023 Spud Seed Classic

Ag Industry showed up at Bass Lake Golf Course in full force for annual fundraiser

Well, the weather outside was delightful for the 2023 Spud Seed Classic golf tournament, June 16, at Bass Lake Golf Course in Deerbrook, Wisconsin, and turnout for the fundraiser was equally fantastic.

Forty-two teams of four players each (some with three) hit the links for a day of golf, camaraderie, competition, games, drawings and delicious food and drinks.

An annual fundraiser put on by the Wisconsin Seed Potato Improvement Association (WSPIA), the Spud Seed Classic raises money toward research and research station needs, as well as promotion of the state’s certified seed potato program and industry. Garnering incredible support each year, potato and vegetable growers, associated businesses, university researchers and guests arrive in full force for the golf tournament, dinner, and awards ceremony.

Timed after planting in most areas is complete, the golf outing serves as a way for growers and industry professionals to unwind, relax, and have fun golfing with friends and industry peers.

The event was a resounding success, and thanks to the generosity of tournament sponsors, the 2023 Spud Seed Classic raised $23,600, a near identical repeat of last year.

Since 1998, the fundraiser, previously known as the Tony Gallenberg Memorial Golf Tournament, has raised well over $170,000, with proceeds invested directly back into the industry.

Generous Sponsors

The 2023 Spud Seed Classic sponsors are Ag Logistics, Inc.; AgCountry Farm Credit Services; Big Iron Equipment, Inc.; BMO Harris Bank; Bushman’s Riverside Ranch; Cropping Central LLC; Kretz Truck Brokerage LLC; Nichino America, Inc.; Northwestern

Left: Keith Wanta of Rural Mutual Insurance rolls a die at the Eagle River Seed Farm sponsored hole for a chance at a gift card good toward an Eagle River restaurant. His teammate, Derek Van Lanen (right), waits his turn.

Right: Playing for Baginski Farms, Charlie Husnick hits a ball out of the sand trap while, behind him from left to right, teammates Cory Chrudimsky, Mike Baginski and Wally Eagle relish the scene.

Mutual Wealth Management Company; Nutrien Ag SolutionsGreat Lakes; Sand County Equipment; Schroeder Bros. Farms, Inc.; Schumitsch Companies; Swiderski Equipment, Inc.; Syngenta; TriEst Ag Group; Vista Financial Services;

With awards for 1st, 2nd, 7th, and last place, taking 7th Place in the Spud Seed Classic is never a bad thing, here accomplished with a score of 61 by, from left to right, Kenton

Volm Companies; and WSPIA.

Occupied hole sponsors CoVantage Credit Union, Eagle River Seed Farm LLC, Oro Agri, Parsons of Antigo, Sunnydale Farms, Vista Financial Strategies, WIPFLI, LLP, and WSPIA doled out prizes, gift packages, beverages, and swag.

Nearly 20 additional companies made monetary and raffle prize donations to the event. See the full-page Spud Seed Classic “Thank You” ad in this issue.

Pam Jansen and the staff at Bass Lake Golf Course prepared a delicious dinner buffet followed by the WSPIA

Spud Seed Classic Awards Ceremony, during which top golfers and raffle prize winners were announced.

Kyle Mattek of J.W. Mattek & Sons took home a 65-inch LG UHD (UltraHigh Definition) TV, and Carl Phillips, there playing for I-State Truck Center, won the raffle ticket drawing for a Bubbl’r bean bags game donated by Pepsi.

More than 15 prizes were awarded for such feats as longest putt at a certain hole, shortest drive at another or closest to the cart path at a third. For being closest to the pin on the par-3 eighth Tony Gallenberg Hole, Tyler Hegewald of Bushman & Associates pocketed a cool $500.

Heartfelt appreciation is extended to Jansen and Jim Pukall of Bass

Left: Playing for Team Harriston-Mayo and Mt. Morris Insurance Company, Shane Senn hits a chip shot.

Right: Representing Team Syngenta are, from left to right, Ron Krueger, Tamas Houlihan, Dave Flakne, and Steve Diercks.

Lake Golf Course, and of course Karen Rasmussen and Julie Braun of the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association for planning and executing a fun and fruitful golf outing. Considering the great turnout and generosity of golfers and sponsors, the industry can certainly look forward to the Spud Seed Classic being back at Bass Lake Golf Course in 2024. continued on pg. 32

I appreciate the service provided by a local agent. They are always available for questions. I like having someone in my community that knows the area. It is like having a friend in the insurance business.

Customer service is one of our core values. Rural Mutual Insurance is ranked in the top percentile of the insurance industry by a customer satisfaction benchmark survey.

Find

WE EXTEND A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR SPONSORS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE 2023 SPUD SEED CLASSIC GOLF EVENT!

Dinner Sponsor

AgCountry Farm Credit Services

Lunch Sponsors

Nichino America, Inc. Schumitsch Companies

Goldrush Sponsors

Syngenta WSPIA

SILVERTON SPONSORS

Ag Logistics, Inc.

Bushman’s Riverside R anch

Kretz Truck Brokerage LLC

Volm Companies

SUPERIOR SPONSORS

Big Iron Equipment, Inc.

BMO Harris Bank

Cropping Central LLC

Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company

Nutrien Ag Solutions-Great Lakes

Sand County Equipment

Schroeder Bros. Farms, Inc.

Swiderski Equipment, Inc.

TriEs t Ag Group

Vista Financial Strategi es

Occupied Hole Sponsors

CoVantage Credit Union

Eagle River Seeed Farm LLC

Oro Agri

Arlen’s TV & Appliances

Beaver Machine, Inc.

C ulver’s/Tony’s Family

Fairchild Equipm ent, Inc.

Gallenberg Farms, Inc.

Gow an USA A

Harriston-May o LLC

Ins ight FS

IState Truck Center

J. W. M attek & Sons, I nc.

AgSour ce Laboratories

Badger Common’Tater

Bass Lake Golf Course

Culver ’s of Antigo

Dixie Lunch

Fifth Avenue Lounge

Lakeside Market

Parsons of Antigo

Sunnydale Farms

Vista Financial Strategies

Wipfli, LLP

WSPIA

Basic Hole Sponsors

J ay-Mar, Inc.

K akes Farms, Ltd.

K erberRos e CPAs

M t. M orris M utual Ins urance

C o.

Nelson’s Vegetable Storage Systems

Nutrien Ag Solutions-G reat

Lak es

Quinlan’s Equipm ent, Inc.

Donations

Mid-State Truck Service

Nor th Star Lanes

Pepsi

Per outka’s Meats

Riesterer & Schnell, Inc.

Rur al Insur ance, Antigo Salon 731

Riesterer & Schnell, I nc.

Rob erts Irrigation C ompany

Southsid e Tire C o., I nc.

Sowinski Seed Farm

T H Ag ri-C hem icals, I nc.

T.I.P., Inc.

Vine Vest North, Inc.

Warner & Warner, Inc.

Schroeder ’s Gifts

Swartzendruber’s Supper Club

Swiderski Equipment, Antigo

WPVGA

WSPIA