WPIB Focus

Election Results are in for 2023-’24 Wisconsin

Potato Industry Board

Out-going board member Bill Wysocki recognized for 30 years of distinguished service

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has certified the 2023 Wisconsin Potato Industry Board (WPIB) election results.

As of July 1, 2023, the following producers began a three-year term as elected WPIB members:

District 1: Tom Wild, Antigo District 1 includes Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Forest, Iron, Kewaunee, Langlade, Lincoln, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Oneida, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, St. Croix, Taylor, Vilas, and Washburn counties.

District 2: Nicola Carey, Bancroft Includes Marathon, Outagamie, Portage, Shawano, Waupaca, and Waushara counties.

District 3: Heidi Randall, Cambria

The WPIB is composed of nine producers in three districts across the state, with one at-large member elected every third year.

Wisconsin Potato Assessment Collections: Two-Year Comparison

Randall (president of the Board) and Wild were reelected to three-year terms.

Carey (new secretary of the Board) was also elected to a three-year term and replaces Bill Wysocki, who served 30 years and decided it was time to step down and let someone else represent District 2.

The rest of the WPIB members are Andy Diercks (vice president); Keith Wolter (treasurer); and John Bobek, John Fenske, Jim Okray, and Eric Schroeder (directors).

During a WPIB Board Meeting on June 23, Randall said, “We’ll be sad to see you go, Bill. You’ve been a key piece of our team and made it fun. I appreciate all that I’ve learned from you.”

One Missed Meeting

“Thirty years, and I missed only one meeting,” Wysocki replied. “Heidi said she’s learned a lot from me, and I learned a lot from Tom [Wild]. He taught me how to read a financial statement for one.”

“It has been a good experience for me,” he said.

The Board oversees the collection and use of approximately $1.9 million in assessment fees paid by Wisconsin potato growers.

This funding is used to support the potato industry through research, education, and promotion of Wisconsin-grown potatoes.

DATCP administers elections for Wisconsin commodity marketing boards. To learn more about market order boards, visit https:// datcp.wi.gov/Pages/About_Us/ MarketingBoards.aspx.