McCain Foods recognizes Fiskel Farms as Champion Potato Grower for its Manitoba Plants

Fiskel Farms of Carberry, Manitoba was named the McCain 2016 Crop Year Champion Potato Grower for the McCain Manitoba plants during the annual Growers’ Appreciation Banquet held at Canad Inns in Portage la Prairie.

Approximately 190 guests gathered to celebrate the Top Growers and their achievements and enjoy a social evening together.

Special guest Dan Sawatsky, Keystone Potato Producers Association Manager, was on hand to extend congratulations to Fiskel Farms and all of the McCain growers.

Dan Sawatsky, Keystone Potato Producers Association Manager:

“I would like to thank McCain for hosting this banquet.”

“A lot of time and effort goes into growing a high quality crop of potatoes and we, the growers, truly appreciate this annual event that recognizes this.”

Master of ceremonies for the evening was Bart Witherspoon, Field Department Manager, who announced the Top 10 Growers. Co-chair of the evening was Bob Hyra, Director, Agriculture NA Mid-West.

Both expressed congratulations to the Growers, along with other McCain management Shai Altman, President, McCain Foods Canada, Dale McCarthy, VP Integrated Supply Chain NA, Jim Waugh, Sr. Director Manufacturing, Dean Melnic, Portage Plant Manager and Dave Giroux, Carberry Plant Manager.

Karen and Rick Fiskel, and Derek Fiskel accepted the Champion Grower award for Fiskel Farms. This is their second time achieving the Champion Grower award.

New this year was the Top Innovator award, which was given to Levi and Lance Hofer of Northport Potato Growers located near Portage la Prairie.

The Growers who qualified for the Top 10 roster, in order of final standing were:

• Fiskel Farms (Champion Grower - Rick and Karen Fiskel with son Derek)
• Bailey Farms (Terry and Lori Bailey with daughter Kelsey and son Thomas)
• Hood Farms (Kevin and Erin Hood with their father Bruce Hood)
• Spud Plains Farms (Paul and Kim Adriaansen)
• E and F Baron Farms (Earl and Faye Baron and son David)
• Sprucewood Colony Farms (Joel Waldner and Mike Hofer)
• Dickson Farms Ventures (Don and Pat Dickson with sons Derrick and Trevor)
• Acadia Colony Farms (Arnold, Isaiah and John Hofer Jr.)
• Hespler Farms (Wayne Derksen and brother in-law Richard Heide)
• Mursan Farms (Murray and Sandy Turner with sons Brett and Keaton)