Interview with June Potter, February 19, 2018 (Part 1)

Interviewee: June Potter

Interviewer: Madeline Abbatacola

Date: February 19, 2018

My name is Madeline Abbatacola and today is Monday February 19, 2018. I am interviewing June Potter at the Wisconsin Cranberry Discovery Center at 204 Main Street in Warrens, WI. Sarah Scripps is operating the recording equipment. This interview is part of a research project for the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association in consultation with the Wisconsin Historical Society.

MA: June, do you mind if I ask you a few questions?

JP: That's fine. I'm here.

MA: Alright, we're just going to start with some family background, biographical information. So, what's your name, date of birth, where are you from?

JP: My name is June A Potter. I was a Stefferud and my date of birth is January 22, 1938 so I just turned 80.

MA: Happy belated birthday. (laughs) How long have you lived in the area here?

JP: I married my husband, a fifth generation cranberry grower, in 1961. Then I moved to Warrens to the marsh.

MA: What is the name of your marsh?

JP: Uh, our name when we incorporated in 1968 was James Potter Cranberry Marsh, Incorporated.

MA: Who are your immediate family members?

JP: Well I have a son operating our main marsh. His name is Todd Potter. Our daughter is on a marsh 10 miles from us. And her name is Jill Potter Rutlin. Then we have our grandchildren. And they are um Sandy Potter Nemitz, David Potter, Julie Rutlin and Kyle Rutlin. And we all work full time on the marsh. On the marshes. (laughs)

MA: Can you describe just briefly how your family became involved in the 00:01:00cranberry industry?

JP: Well, I married my husband who was a fifth generation and I'd like to go back to his roots. Uh, it started in Cranmoor east, uh no west of Wisconsin Rapids. And um, the older generation, my husband being fifth, going back we have the great-grandparents and the great-great and so on. And actually we have generations on two families of cranberry. We have the Bennett side, which has the oldest generation. And then we have the Potters side. So actually my husband is fifth generation Bennett and fourth generation Potter. And those two, our grandparents, dated each other in the canals up in Cranmoor, um because the marshes joined. So interesting, and then um 1912, Oscar was the 00:02:00oldest so he had to move out from the main marsh and he came down here to Warrens. And Eva came with him of course. And they have a marsh then from 1912. At present, our son has purchased half of that across the road.

MA: Do you want to show the [picture]?

JP: So I did bring along (laughs). And so you can see. Mel Potter donated to each of us that had to move from the main marsh I say. This is the original Potter and Son Incorporated where our great-great grandparents started out.

MA: So you sort of described how the marshes came into the family, have there been any changes that impacted your cranberry growing experience, the switch between generations or transfer of business?

JP: Well we've had a lot of changes over the years that I witness from 1960. And one of the changes of course was irrigation. We got our irrigation in 1960. Before that we would flood. What I call flood from the pond through the ditches. And so if it was freezing, the last bed probably froze. We never got the water there fast enough. So we were really pleased when we were able to buy irrigation. And then after that um there's quite a few different changes. Um, well there's changes in planting. Um we originally had some of the vines being planted in what I call peat and weeds. And the weeds kept growing and we just couldn't control it. And so then the change was among the growers was, let's put sand. So you know a big layer of sand on top, let's plant in the sand. And at 00:04:00that point we said, uh, whoa we got the irrigation now, we can irrigate in the summer when you know it gets too hot. And so that was another big change. And now more recently, if you want to pay a higher price, you can get an actual plug and it has, the vine has the roots on it and it's in a medium and you borrow, like we borrow our neighbors plug machine that he invented. And you sit and plug it in along the rows and that have been a big improvement because you're actually getting rooted vines in there. Another thing would be the fertilizer boom. The fertilizer boom was a big improvement because we use to hire a helicopter guy to show up. Well he usually show up at the big marshes and do all 00:05:00those first and then the wind came up and oh we can't do you today. So that got to be an issue. And now with the fertilizer boom, it might be 100 feet or whatever, if you have a 200 foot bed then you would go down once and turn around and go back the other. So people kinda started planting their new uh beds according to that fertilizer belt boom. And uh then we could put it on even if it was windy because the boom has, right down to the beds, like the fertilizers etc., you know. So that was another big improvement. Can you help me with some of mine (laughs) my other ones?

MA: Yes, so you wrote down in your notes, the grass machine, less employees.

JP: The grass machine, we started out with that. You would take your little dump truck up to the grass machine, get the frogs and the grass and stuff out and then put it in the semi [truck] and send it down to your handler. Well more 00:06:00recently we bought our own semis which hold a lot. And we drive the semi right down to the bed and then we have um uh a cleaner and so when the berries are harvested and brought up to this cleaner that takes care of it and we don't have to drive our little dump trucks up to the shed. And so I think it probably takes 20 minutes and they go through and it's full, then it pulls off and we pull another semi in. So it also cuts down on how many people we have to hire at harvest. And do I have any others that I jotted down?

MA: Yes, so sort of going with irrigation you wrote down drain tile. Can you explain that?

JP: Yes, we were having some of the beds, they were just too damp. You know they were in low land and we decided then uh someone came up with the idea to put the 00:07:00drain tile underneath and then of course that would drain the water from the bed into the canal and on its way.

MA: And then you also wrote down color.

JP: And color has been an issue because normally you would get paid for more color, uh darker you know. And now there is a certain amount of color they want, they don't want the say deep purple because they have to get it for our craisins or what we call the sweetened dried cranberries and they have to meet the color again, you know. So color has been changed as we go.

MA: Alright, thank you. So lots of changes during your lifetime.

JP: Yes. Mmhm.

MA: Going back to touching on the importance of family, what was one of your favorite family memories of harvest?

JP: Well, harvest to us has always been a family, we try to get even people who are not cranberry growers to take off a week or two and it use to be that they 00:08:00would show up and help us and it was kinda a jolly time you know. But now because our son and daughter have expanded a lot, and bought other marshes and it's too many weeks off. So it would get to be probably 3 weeks or more that they'd have to take off work and that's not gonna happen. So we mechanized a lot so that we can kinda handle it within our own family. And I have been the one, and prior to that grandma Lila she always had the meals and now I've carried on that. I hope I can still keep doing that. They look for my car to arrive to the building, wherever what marsh we're on and uh for me it's important. You know, I want you to realize that my husband uh drowned in 2012. And he was going out in January to get his fishing shack off because it had turned extremely warm 00:09:00and he was in is heavy duty Kubota and that sunk in our pond and so that was our tragedy. But he would have wanted us to keep going, you know because this is our way of life, this is what we want to do. And our children came back to the marsh, they took the college that they wanted to, we never told them they had to come back, but they did. And now our grandchildren have so he passed on that legacy from his family. And he loved the outside, he loved the outdoors, you know the environment too. And you know, cranberry growers are their own bosses, that's another part of it. You know they kinda have a, you know, it's nice. They get to try different things because they're in charge. Um I want to say that he 00:10:00was very talented. He designed equipment and our son has followed through. I think that he could have been a professional designer for equipment and uh you know but on cranberry marshes you don't get a chance to buy or apply for a patent if you design something because there's not that many growers and if were not that many to sell to and then if you change it one little bit, then the patent isn't good you know. So that's what people can do. So he also served in the military. He served his country he was ironically, he was a paratrooper in the 101st and then at that point he became the radio commander's operator. So he lived with him during the day you know and that was an interesting part of his life. He wanted to serve his country but no he didn't want to go on, he wanted 00:11:00to come back to the marsh. And I was married to him with different talents and one of the talents I had was um public relations, and decorating, and teaching, and education and so on. And so in the hard times, I taught school when the price was down and that was a backup. I've had many opportunities in being in public relations. It's kinda um, it's a volunteer, I volunteered all this for all these years, started in '73 when we had the Cranfest. And I think that I have become very aware of really a lot about the industry. So I probably could talk on any subject but it's really hard if I don't have my notes. (laughs)

MA: It's so nice to hear how important family has been to you throughout the 00:12:00generations and that your kids are continuing it. In one of your notes you put vacations and travels, 36 countries.

JP: Yes, I started in 1960, I went to Europe right out of college, borrowed money on my teaching, and I've been telling the story of cranberries ever since. I just came back from the Ocean Spray convention in Florida and on the way some of the people were saying, Ocean Spray I didn't know that was a co-op. Well at the convention they told us that only 20% in American know that we are a co-op. The growers own, Ocean Spray and they also told us that right now, as of 2018, 70% of the growers are in Ocean Spray and 30% are in the independent handlers.

MA: Oh, I didn't even know Ocean Spray was a co-op. That's really nice. So would you have any advice to your family members, kids, grandchildren?

JP: I have, I think that my husband and I lived our advice in many ways. I mean I feel it's most important your faith and your family and your friends. I mean in the end that's it. So I thought a lot about that question that you had and I think there is many things that I could put down there. And you may have to help me with some of those because I think it is important to know what we have passed on. We passed on a work ethic, you know if a job has to be done, you gotta stay, you can't be out down the road to your friends. We passed on that it's wise to use the talent in the family for what they're known for and give them authority over that talent. If they're known for bookwork and they have a degree in business administration well then let them be in charge of that part. 00:14:00And uh if they're known for equipment or whatever just you know use your family talents according to what their strength are. Uh another thing that I guess we would pass on would be, be involved with your family for events, you don't have to live their daily life you know. At this day and age the best way for me to contact my grandkids and my son and daughter is if I text. Because they might be on the equipment and at that point they're, you know, they're too busy to answer the phone (laugh) so they just text me back or they look at the text and say oh mom it's not that important okay I'll answer you later and I don't get an answer. But I had to learn that texting was the way.

MA: Changing technologies. (laughs)

JP: Yeah, right. Are there other things I wrote down I would really like to pass on?

MA: Hard times.

JP: The hard times will come. Every generation will have hard times and the good times. Right now were in an oversupply so the price then gets cut and so you have to figure out ways, what you're gonna do. And one of the things you're not gonna do is spend so much money. You're gonna cut your expenses, you're going to barter with your neighbors. You're going to take a job off the marsh. You're going to uh do whatever you can you know to cut. Because it'll get better, it just will get better. You also have to realize that in cranberry growing it pretty important that you be able to function with say a loan or whatever. And 00:16:00some people can't really be in a business where they have to borrow money. They can't handle that. So cranberry growing is pretty much you're going to have to borrow some money. Mhmm.

MA: and then you also said you never get bored with growing up and working on the marsh.

JP: and my granddaughter has said that recently because she took the leadership route now and um she said you know what I'm never bored out here because every season changes and then we got different jobs, you know, so it's never boring, yeah.

MA: Great and so beyond family, what benefits of your neighbors and community do you have?

JP: We have a very unique community here in the Warrens area. There are a lot of cranberry growers all the way around. And uh one of the things that I'd like to share is the cranberry festival because that has been a real bond, we all got to help in some kinda way. And so the first 25 years, and now were on the 45th 00:17:00going to the 46th, I was in charge of getting this book out. I took a lot of the pictures and it just documented and I hope that someone will do the 50th now in 5 years because I'm gonna take a break. And this is what I usually wear because I'm the only one that has the cranberry festival jacket with all the patches. These are the oldest ones, I started out by putting them on the back and then I had to go to the front and then down the sleeve. And I'm getting a little short but I guess I could add some more. And then some of the experiences I've had. I've has some really unique experience and awards that I've received because of volunteering. I think if you volunteer it comes back to you in many ways. It's not only the people you meet but they recognize you. And uh one of the 00:18:00experiences was being asked to serve at the governor's residence, the executive residence. I've served there for almost 10 years and um hosted, helped the governor's wife host events and um then as soon as I got down there and I realized you know the big Christmas trees and all that, I thought we ought to get a cranberry tree in here. So I wrote to and talked to the growers in the state and they started sending me ornaments, didn't have to be homemade but it was you know a cranberry theme. So we put up oh I don't know, maybe a 10 foot tree and then they asked me if we could do the foyer tree, which is two stories high. Well we did that too. (laughs) So I think that if you ever want to do something or be something you ask. And I had asked the first lady when she came 00:19:00to Cranfest for the first time. I said is there anything I can do to help you, you know not every day or every week or whatever and she said we need you on the cranberry, no I'm sorry, the executive residence board. I've had other unique experiences I'll be going shortly to the governor's tourism conference again. And that's held every year and there are about 1,000 of us that come from Wisconsin. And twice in the last five years I've been nominated and featured as one of five for the top legacy award, which means you worked in tourism and so on for 30 years or more. And, let's see. The growers association, which is with this filming, they have given me the service to industry award and that was a 00:20:00big honor. Um I guess I have had quite a few different experiences that many people haven't. I still serve on the Cranberry Festival board. Um but I serve on the advisory board so that the young ones can be on the main voting board and I am really active with that. And that has also brought our community, like I've said bonded it. Because they gotta help in different ways. We saw at the festival that we didn't have something that showed how they sorted cranberries years ago with the Bailey Mill if you've seen that. And so my husband and son and grandkids, they have put that up on display and actually got it working so that they could bring in some cranberries and it goes through the Bailey then they sort it right in front of the public. And then they put it out into like 5 00:21:00pound bags and they can by it so its fresh and they've actually seen the process. So that's kinda how our family helps. But you go to the cranberry festival and we started it in '73, we had 3,000 people here we had 75 booth out here on the main street. Now we have over 1,200 booths, 3 miles of walking, and we have 120,000 people usually that come during the time. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the last weekend in September. So that's gotten to be a really big thing. People fly in from foreign countries even. We had a map last year and they were from uh it seems like almost 50 different countries on our property those three days so you know our community it just takes all of us. And that's why we have it the end of September cause most growers are harvesting in October 00:22:00and they just can't get off to help us. So you will find cranberry gifts, cranberry food, cranberry contest like biggest cranberry, etc. cranberry quilts, uh I'm just thinking, oh music of course and other things too but. Cranberry royalty. (both laugh)

MA: So it's the largest in the world?

JP: It's the largest in the world.

MA: That's impressive.

JP: I've been to some of the others on the East Coast and I've also been up in British Columbia and it doesn't compare.

MA: You have a very impressive resume. So what has your experience and involvement been in cranberry research.

JP: Okay, I got involved in research in the most eye opening way by serving for at least 9 years on the Wisconsin Cranberry Board. And most of those years I was 00:23:00secretary. So I felt my duty was to read every research paper and correct anything that was spelled wrong or the phrase or missing a word or something so that the growers' association office could actually type it in the final form. And then of course we went to hear all these research uh requests like in University of Madison etc., we've had from Stevens Point and other areas, and even from out of state. That was eye opening.

MA: So what benefits do you see to the industry from cranberry research?

JP: Well there are a lot of benefits because you're talking education, you're talking um displays for examples at the state fair etc. you're talking 00:24:00advertising, you know we have to advertise about our history, etc. You're talking the current now that's being built, the research station, they're helping with that. And then all the research for helping the plant grow better or new varieties, we have a lot of new varieties.

MA: Thank you for your time. Is there any other thoughts or comments you would like everyone to know about cranberries or your life?

JP: Well, let's see. (laughs) My life, I've done a lot of over the years, um articles. This one is from last year. It was in the Country Woman and they started out, I thought I liked this phrase. It said A Wisconsin cranberry grower 00:25:00spends a lifetime cultivating an appreciation of a tiny tart fruit. And this is grandma's pie on here that she always made. They sold a whole bunch of them at the Cranfest every year. And then they featured at the festival and then my granddaughter she is out. Women, you know in some of the marshes, they don't allow the women to be a part of the marsh and just the other day I heard this one lady say I grew up on a marsh but just the boys got to go out on the marsh. And we were very forward looking I guess, we said your talent and if you can, well if you can handle. Well here is proof, she is out handling with the boom with the harvest and has to do whatever. A lot of times were interviewed and 00:26:00this is at the booth at Cranfest and the Bailey Mill and that is behind here, you see them selling. And then uh I started the biggest cranberry contest at the festival when I came back from New Jersey. They had a biggest cranberry and ironically my granddaughter at 32, she got the award back then she was only 2 okay, so its 30 years ago I started it and now this year she entered her two, my two great grandkids. Here you see them, they're out. They like eating them raw. I can't handle that. So anyways yea we do a lot of, and we have lots of things, like here is the biggest cranberry fry pan and we cook up and add it to sugar, no I'm sorry, add some sugar. But we cook up and add it to ice cream. That is a 00:27:00hit. So I've enjoyed this and I think that we do need to really carry on with our history because our young people need to have roots and I think that, I have been doing my family tree since 1960 when I went to Norway etc. and I am still working on it and I am really happy now that the family tree maker is coming out with a new system and the ancestry. So I've hired somebody who would come and help me with some of this and he has, I had 600 family tree people in and I now have 6,000 because I have all these trees from Norway that I brought back and he's helped me get those entered. So history is important, you learn from 00:28:00history. And I thank you. MA: Thank you, it seems you've left such a great legacy in the cranberry industry. Thank you.

JP: You're welcome.