Board Member Spotlight: Tamas Houlihan
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 Tamas Houlihan
A career in agriculture wasn’t the obvious choice for Tamas Houlihan. In fact, his path to the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association began in sports journalism. Originally a writer with a degree in communications, Tamas made the move from sports editor to managing editor of the Badger Common’Tater in 1987. After 27 years in his role with the Badger Common’Tater, Tamas became the executive director of WPVGA and has been representing and advocating for the needs of potato and vegetable growers in the state of Wisconsin for the past seven years.
“I stayed in agriculture because of the people,” Tamas said. “I’m really proud to work with farmers; they’re some of the smartest, hardest working people I know. It’s the relationships I’ve built over the years and the knowledge that my work is helping to feed the world that has kept me here.”
Tamas’ role as the editor of the Common’Tater gave him an insider’s view to the potato and vegetable farming industry. From historical practices to new technology and trends in food production and preparation, Tamas heard, learned about, and reported on the large variety of issues affecting farmers, land and crops. This knowledge gathered over years of reporting has prepared him to represent the needs of farmers while lobbying for rules and regulations that benefit the agriculture field as well as the state’s economy and resources.
“With less than one percent of the population working in agriculture, people just aren’t aware of the needs and practices in the field,” said Tamas. “It used to be that 10 or 12 farmers would also be state legislators and they were able to make decisions with farms in mind. Now, we need someone who understands the industry to communicate on behalf of farmers about transportation, trade, economic impacts and the environment.”
In his roles with WPVGA, Tamas has been telling the story of production agriculture in Wisconsin. He became involved with Farming for the Future Foundation because he sees opportunities to share more about the industry in which he has become ingrained.
“It will be easier to advocate for the farming industry when the public is more aware of the narrative of production agriculture,” said Tamas. “That is what the Food + Farm Exploration Center is going to do. It’s going to serve as a resource for students, schools, families and agritourists to see what is happening with their food.”
Tamas and his wife Paula reside in Stevens Point. They have recently become empty nesters as the youngest of their seven children graduated from high school and moved out of the house. Tamas and Paula have five grandchildren and look forward to the arrival of two more this summer.
FFTFF is excited to work with Tamas to tell that story and grateful for his time and shared knowledge!
More about Tamas:
Best way to enjoy a potato: This is a hard question because they are so versatile and are delicious in so many ways! My favorite would have to be fried breakfast potatoes with olive oil and garlic.
Piece of technology I couldn’t live without: I could probably survive without it, but I really like my big screen TV for watching Packers, Badgers, Bucks and Brewers games.
Favorite place to be: I love to be outside on my deck, but I also really enjoy my man cave (see above).
Mantra or words of wisdom to live by: My father ingrained this one into me: Do what you say you’re going to do.
