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38 POTATO GROWER | APRIL 2017 38 POTATO GROWER | APRIL 2017 WISCONSIN PROUD Retail store wins 2016 Wisconsin potatoes display contest Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association Dana Rady Director of Promotion, Communication & Consumer Education coloring contest for kids, and provided visitors with free samples of unique potato dishes that even included potato cake. In addition, Trig's put up banners outside promoting Wisconsin potatoes, made "Buy Local Buy Wisconsin" t-shirts for its staff to wear, and held a drawing to award one lucky person with a free grill as long as they walked through the Spudmobile during their visit. Every department in the store was showcasing Wisconsin potatoes in some way. It's one thing to build a display, but when you also understand the importance of buying local, promoting Wisconsin farmers to the public, and creating long-lasting relationships, that's a huge accomplishment that resonates throughout communities and regions and reaps nothing but benefits. Don Theisen, store director of the Rhinelander On Nov. 28, 2016, the 2015 Fat Bob Harley Davidson decked out in "Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes" logos found its home at Trig's in Rhinelander, Wis., after the retail store won the 2016 Wisconsin Potatoes Display Contest. The promotions committee of the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) put on the contest during the state's Potatopalooza month in October as a way of encouraging retail stores and consumers to engage in a "buy local" effort. Promotions committee members presented the motorcycle to Trig's as the winner at the store Nov. 28. The all-encompassing effort Trig's put into its promotion and communication of Wisconsin potatoes easily made it the No. 1 choice in winning the contest. Besides designing a display in the produce department, the store used various point-of-purchase materials from its Wisconsin potato supplier and invited the Wisconsin Spudmobile to make an appearance. Trig's handed out healthy potato dish recipes to customers, held a Understanding the importance of promoting local growers to the public and creating long-lasting relationships resonates through communities and regions. Store director Don Theisen (front) shows off the Harley Davidson motorcycle awarded to Trig's in Rhinelander for winning the 2016 Wisconsin Potatoes Display Contest. Behind him are WPVGA and Trig's administrators.