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Big Iron Hosts Annual Spudnik Sales Meeting

Dealers and guests visit Heartland Farms, and enjoy a Wisconsin Dells boat tour

Big Iron Equipment of Plover, Wisconsin, played host to more than 40 Spudnik dealers, sales associates, and guests from across the country,

June 20-21, for Spudnik’s Annual Sales Meeting.

The itinerary included sales meetings at the Holiday Inn Convention Center where Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association Executive Director Tamas Houlihan was a keynote speaker, a tour of Heartland Farms in Hancock, a Wisconsin Dells boat tour, lunch at Feltz Family Farm & Dairy Store, and dinners and receptions.

Above: Spudnik dealers and sales associates pose outside of Big Iron Equipment in Plover, Wisconsin, during Spudnik’s Annual Sales Meeting, June 20-21, 2023.

Other activities included a tour of the Food + Farm Exploration Center conducted by Dick Okray and Andy Reitz of the Farming for the Future Foundation, axe throwing at Section 715 Throwing Company, dinner at the Cedar Shack in Adams, and a Big Iron Equipment facility open house, dinner, and drinks.

The Spudmobile and Spudmobile Education and Outreach

Administrator George Neuber were on-hand at the Big Iron Equipment open house for Spudnik dealers to take tours of the mobile education vehicle and traveling billboard.

Stacy Groshek addressed the dealers during dinner, giving a rundown on the history of Big Iron Equipment, which began when her father, Bill Zelinski, bought the Spudnik building, parts shop, offices, and equipment yard, and opened the doors for business in November 1995.

Thirty Years In Business

Ready to celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2025, Big Iron Equipment has grown and evolved over the years, at one time buying the business next door to expand operations.

Above: Family members of Big Iron Equipment owner Bill Zelinski enjoyed a Spudmobile visit during the Spudnik Annual Sales Meeting. The kids in the first photo are, from left to right in the front row: Delaney, Brice and Vince Mykisen; middle row, left to right, Hank and Nora Groshek; and back row, Brennah Kulinski. The full family in the second photograph includes, from left to right, Zach Mykisen holding Vince; Amy Mykisen with Brice in front of her; Stacy Groshek with Delaney in front of her; Kevin Groshek; Dianne Zelinski with Nora in front of her; Bill Zelinski; Jessie Kozlowski with Hank in front of her; and Luke Zelinski.

With several immediate Zelinski family members employed at Big Iron Equipment, Groshek, who is the office manager, said, “We are more of a family than coworkers, and those who aren’t family are adopted.”

She then went on to recognize several employees who have been continued on pg. 38 provide real nutrition are used at rates that will actually feed with Big Iron Equipment anywhere from just shy of a decade on up to 26 years.

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“Spudnik has been our most constant line of equipment,” Groshek explained.

“We’ve got to be one of the oldest Spudnik dealers in the country,” Bill added. “I have to check on that fact.”