Tammy Wiedenbeck of Lancaster, Wisconsin, is the grand prize winner of the 2019 Thrive #RootedinAg Contest from Syngenta. This annual competition challenges growers and other ag industry professionals across the country to describe the person who most nourished their agricultural roots. Wiedenbeck, who works as the social media coordinator for the Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales Association and also helps manage her family’s seven-generation farm, chose to honor her brother, Douglas Richard Wiedenbeck.
In her winning essay, she wrote, “I always said my older brother was my role model growing up. Not only did he set the bar high for me, but he continues to be a role model in agriculture for everyone around him. He’s as close to perfect as a person can get, being a hard worker on the farm, a full-time agronomy supervisor at an agriculture research station, and a father and husband to his wife and five young children.”
Wiedenbeck’s story resonated with both online voters and a panel of judges. Now, after receiving a mini touch-screen tablet alongside two other deserving finalists, she has also won $500. Additionally, Syngenta will make a $1,000 donation to be divided equally among three organizations in honor of Wiedenbeck’s brother: the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation, the Lancaster FFA Alumni, and the Grant County Cattlemen’s Association.
“I chose these organizations because of the impact they have had on the lives of so many people in my local community, including my brother and me,” she says.
Wiedenbeck is the sixth winner of the #RootedinAg Contest.
“Every year, we’re so inspired by the stories our readers tell us,” says Wendell Calhoun, communications manager at Syngenta. “This year was no exception. We’re especially proud to recognize Tammy and her older brother, whose lifelong encouragement has helped strengthen her agricultural roots and shape the person she is today.”
