Committees
Associate Division Board President, Steve Tatro – T.I.P. Inc.
Goals
- Help foster and promote the various functions of the potato and vegetable industry
- Add value to being a member of the Associate Division
- Maintaining or increasing the number of Associate Division members
Auxiliary Board - President, Lynn Isherwood – Isherwood Company
Goals
- Promote the Wisconsin potato industry by attending various shows/functions throughout the year and supplying restaurants, schools, and homes with potato nutrition information
Government Affairs Committee - Chairman, Lynda Bula – Gary Bula Farms
Grower Education Planning Committee - Chairman, Dennis Bula – Bula Potato Farm
Goals
- Promote the Wisconsin potato and vegetable industry
- Promote and publicize the Healthy Grown™ program to Wisconsin growers and the business community
- Encourage new vegetable business that capitalizes on Wisconsin’s strengths
- Focus on grower outreach and communications
- Provide continuing grower education opportunities
- Continue the annual Grower Education Program in conjunction with the Industry Show and cooperation with UW Extension
- Reaffirm the commitment and collaboration with the UW and World Wildlife Fund
- Consider collaborations with other groups to promote the Wisconsin potato and vegetable industry
- Work with the UW to fill retiring positions in a timely manner
- Effectively manage issues as they arise
Database Sub-Committee - Chairman, Andy Diercks – Coloma Farms
Goals
- Increase grower confidence in data security and expand grower participation in data reporting
- Use this data collected through SureHarvest to educate growers and define research needs and priorities
- Develop policies for data distribution and accessibility
Processor Relations Committee-Frozen Chairman, Jeff Sommers – Wysocki Produce
Chip Sub-Committee - Chairman, Brad Faldet – Faldet Farms
Goals
- Increase chip sales to chip companies by up to five percent over the next two years
Vegetable Sub-Committee - Chairman, Rick Beggs – Reb’l Acres
Promotions & Consumer Education Committee Chairperson, Rachel Leach - Russet Potato Exchange
Chip Sub-Committee - Chairman, Brad Faldet – Faldet Farms
WSPIA Promotion Sub-Committee - Chairman, John Hein – Sowinski Farms
Research Committee - Chairman, TJ Kennedy – Heartland Farms
Goals
- Identify research and extension needs
- Review ongoing research
- Evaluate proposals that address research needs
- Prioritize research projects for funding purposes
- Encourage the completion of the research
- Require reporting of the results to the industry
- Identify additional funding sources and support grant writing efforts of the researchers
- Assist the college in faculty searches and hires
- Assist in the acquisition of appropriate facilities and equipment
Environmental Sub-Committee
SpudPro Sub-Committee - Chairman, Dennis Bula – Bula Potato Farm
Goals
- Facilitate transfer of new potato varieties to the marketplace
- Manage financial structure of SpudPro
- Develop strategies to educate and create linkages between all sectors of the Wisconsin potato industry to ensure the reasonable success of SpudPro lines
- Address plant variety protection and related issues as they arise
- Work with the UW-Breeding program in an industry advisory capacity
Storage Research Sub-Committee
WPIB Board President, Tom Wild – Wild Seed Farms
WPVGA Board President, TJ Kennedy – Heartland Farms
WPVGA Executive Committee
Goals
- Work with the WPVGA staff to ensure follow-through and accountability, conduct annual performance reviews for staff and set compensation and benefits
WSPIA Board - President, John Hein – Sowinski Certified Seed Farm
