Posted: 03.11.2011

Potato growers are encouraged to vote in the Wisconsin Potato Industry Board elections to be held March 21 - April 9, 2011 for Districts 1, 2, and 3.  Candidates will be on the ballot for Districts 1 and 2. Growers in District 3 are invited to vote for a write-in candidate, because no nominations were received. 

Potato growers running for the Wisconsin Potato Industry Board positions are:

●  District 1:Tom Wild, Antigo (Incumbent)

●  District 2: William Wysocki, Plover (Incumbent)

●  District 3: Write-in candidate

Farmers who grow and sell potatoes on five or more acres in Districts 1, 2 and 3 are eligible to vote for these candidates. Write-in candidates are also acceptable for Districts 1 and 2. 

Counties within those districts include: 

●  District 1: 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.

●  District 2: Marathon, Outagamie, Portage, Shawano, Waupaca and Waushara.

●  District 3: Adams, Buffalo, Calumet, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Manitowoc, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Ozaukee, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sheboygan, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Winnebago and Wood.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) will conduct the election by secret ballot.  DATCP will mail ballots to all potato growers in Districts 1, 2 and 3.  Potato growers who do not receive a ballot by March 28, 2011 should contact Noel Favia at 608-224-5140. 

The Wisconsin Potato Industry Board is made up of nine potato growers who have been elected by state potato producers.  The Board is responsible for budget approval and managing over $1,000,000 in grower-funded promotion and research money annually.  Results of the election will be made public at the end of April.

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