Feb 9, 2015WPVGA presents awards and Hall of Fame induction
The Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) inducted Robert Helbach of Amherst into its Hall of Fame during the WPVGA’s annual awards banquet at Stevens Point.
Helbach Farms was started in the 1930s by Robert Helbach’s father, George, primarily as a dairy operation with 8 to 10 acres of potatoes.
Robert and his wife, Helen, took control of the farm in 1974 and began concentrating on vegetables. He began growing potatoes in 1980 and later became one of the top growers of processed potatoes for Ore-Ida Foods.
Helbach Farms now grows approximately 450 acres of chipping potatoes for Heartland Farms and 350 acres of Russet Burbank for McCain.
The Helbachs’ sons Mike, Kirk and George are now running the farm and family business.
The WPVGA also presented several awards during the banquet.
Kathy Bartsch of Bartsch Farms, Coloma, was named WPVGA volunteer of the year.
Eric Schroeder, of Schroeder Brothers Farms, Antigo, received the WPVGA Young Grower of the Year award.
Paul Mitchell, University of Wisconsin-Madison associate professor, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, received the WPVGA researcher of the year award.
The WPVGA associate division businessperson of the year award went to Eugene Mancl.
Diane Somers, of Plover River Farms, Stevens Point, received the Agri-Communicator award for excellence in communication.
Larry Alsum, 2014 WPVGA president, of Alsum Farms & Produce, Friesland, presented president’s awards to his daughters, Wendy Alsum-Dykstra and Heidi Alsum-Randall and to Tamas Houlihan, WPVGA executive director.
Special industry appreciation awards were presented to Chris Brooks of Plover; Glenn Carlson, former agricultural supervisor at the Hancock Agricultural Research Station; and Nick Somers of Plover River Farms, Stevens Point.
