Board Member Spotlight: Andy Diercks

Each member of the Farming for the Future Foundation’s board of directors brings advanced knowledge in agriculture, education or the state of Wisconsin. We’re honored to have state experts informing and guiding our path forward and know that each member is crucial in deepening the relationships between people, their food and growers. Check in each month to meet a member of our team and learn about their role in the future of farming.

Get to know Farming for the Future Foundation: Board of Directors Member Andy Diercks

Andy Diercks is a fourth-generation farmer who was raised on and now co-owns Coloma Farms with his father. Coloma Farms grows potato, corn and soybeans, and welcomes researchers from the University of Wisconsin to learn about and improve upon innovative and sustainable production agricultural practices.

“My family and our grower association, the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association, have been working with researchers from the UW for more than 50 years,” said Andy. “We help them understand what we’re doing and seeing on the farm and they help us deal with issues and push us to do things better.”

Research projects on their farm in recent years have included fertility rates and types, seed spacing, and variety trials.  

“Our potato community in Wisconsin provides a very smooth and efficient transfer of research and knowledge from campus labs to University research stations to farms like ours and then out to our neighbors,” said Andy. “The growers in this industry are always willing to try new ways to farm better, especially when those new ideas come from our research team or our neighbors.”

An agricultural engineer with a degree from University of Wisconsin – Madison, Andy’s connection to and upbringing on the land as well as his education and research experience have created a passion for agriculture.

“I think a lot of people would enjoy working in the agriculture industry, but it’s not something everyone is aware of,” said Andy. “People don’t know we’re using things like drone technology, advanced computer modelling and GIS mapping. There are way more opportunities in ag than most people realize.”

Andy joined the Farming for the Future Foundation board of directors out of a desire to help others become interested in and take advantage of the many opportunities available in production agriculture. We’re grateful for his contributions to the agriculture field and his service on our board of directors.

A little more about Andy:

Best way to enjoy a potato: Sliced with peppers and onions on the grill.

Piece of technology I couldn’t live without: A mountain bike

Favorite place to be: Downhill skiing in the mountains with friends.

Mantra to live by: You can’t control what happens to you, but you can control how you respond.