Meet the Associates

Allan Equipment manufactures a full line up of 2-, 3-, 4- and 6-row harvesters, 2-, 4- and 6-row windrowers, live-bottom bulk bodies, trailer inserts, pilers, hillers, crop carts, conveyers and numerous types of grading equipment. The company also manufactures a planter press wheel kit for increasing potato planting speeds and accuracy, and it is currently developing a new potato planter. Cousins says he and van Schalkwyk both are farmers, so they know the importance of keeping equipment rolling when it matters most. “We treat all of our customer farms as if they were our own,” he says. “We know potatoes and take pride in designing equipment that solves problems for farmers and makes growing their crops easier.”

“I’ve always maintained that it is important to treat and respect our manufacturing partners in the same manner with which we approach our customers. This belief has led to a tremendous number of high-quality relationships on both sides of the aisle across the country,” Warner says. “I’m proud of our company’s sound business practices, high quality of customer service and on-time delivery. I’m proud of how we conduct ourselves when things don’t go as planned. We work hard to quickly resolve negatives and turn them into positives. Lastly, I am proud of the success W&W has enjoyed—steady growth every year since our inception, which is a key indicator of a healthy business model.”

The goal of VAS Laboratories remains the same—to create clarity out of research and raw data points, equipping growers with the power to make informed management decisions. “The Antigo Flats is my home territory and holds a special place. Very few consultants get the opportunity to work with the concentration of growers that I do here. I love getting out on the farm to provide insights and help them make decisions. Seeing them make changes over the years that help protect the environment and improve the soil health is what drives me to continue what we do.”

Oro Agri seemingly burst onto the potato and vegetable growing scene, in the early 2000’s, with crop protection products and yield improvement solutions, namely conventional and organic biopesticides, adjuvants, fertilizers, bio-stimulants and soil conditioners. The company develops and manufactures agricultural, home and industrial products marketed as being low impact and environmentally friendly. Oro Agri boasts global distribution to more than 85 countries with upwards of 2,000 dealers and retailers, and 240 employees spread out over 30 countries.

Our plan is to continue to grow Chippewa Valley Bean. In addition to our core operation of processing and exporting kidney beans, we have also begun to broker other commodities to offer our customers a full basket of agricultural options. Charles Wachsmuth is vice president of Chippewa Valley Bean and is making sure the business is rooted in family, pride, respect for the land and the production of quality food, which was the motivation nearly 50 years ago.

Brothers Frank and John Riesterer and their fishing companion, Henry Schnell, opened a filling station in Chilton, Wisconsin, in 1931, expanding to milk handling, a car dealership, and in 1939, entering the farm business. Fast forward to today, and Corporate Sales Manager Steve Boehm says the fact that Riesterer & Schnell is, “the premier John Deere dealer for northeastern, eastern and central Wisconsin, with 14 locations, is incredible.” When Riesterer & Schnell started out as a small family-and-friend business, it had strong roots in the community. Boehm says, no different than it was in 1931, the business remains not only about customer service, but in always striving to be the best.