$125,000 Raised at 16th Annual Didion Foundation Strong Communities Golf Outing

$25,000 match announced for area school district’s new greenhouse fundraising campaign and 2024 Impact Report released. 

[Cambria, WI, September 27, 2024] – The 16th Didion Foundation Strong Communities Golf Outing proved to be a resounding success, raising an impressive $125,000. Nearly 150 golfers and almost 50 sponsors came together, with multiple area businesses generously donating auction items for the September 19 event. Check out the event page for a sneak preview of photos from the day. 

The day on the links was filled with purpose as participants united to support a variety of community organizations and initiatives. The funds raised over the years have benefited local first responders, including fire and police departments, as well as food banks, youth agricultural education programs and healthy living initiatives. 

“It is truly humbling to see our partners – vendors and customers – come together to make a difference for our communities,” said Riley Didion, CEO of Didion Milling, Inc. “This event exemplifies the power of uniting for a common cause, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed and participated in the outing.” 

Examples of the power of partnership are seen throughout Didion’s 2024 Impact Report, which was released at the golf outing. 

“From donations in our community to the impact our work has on the agriculture and food industries to supporting our team’s professional and personal goals, the effect we can have on the world is compounded when we do these things together,” Riley said. 

A highlight of the day was the announcement of a $25,000 matching donation to the Pardeeville Area School District’s fundraising efforts to build a new greenhouse.  

“Our current greenhouse needs repair and is lacking in space to adequately meet the growing demand for agriculture education,” said Amanda Seichter, Pardeeville High School Agri-Science Instructor and FFA Advisor. “Nearly 70% of students enrolled in at least one ag-related course last year.” 

Seichter is leading the Pardeeville Agriculture Department and FFA Chapter campaign to raise $100,000 for the new greenhouse. The Didion Foundation match comes on the heels of the Lenz Charitable Trust’s starting donation of $50,000. The two matching donations are a springboard Seichter was hoping to have from community partners. 

“We are honored to help be a part of the community-wide effort to expand hands-on student education in agriculture and food sciences,” said Riley Didion. “I encourage other businesses and organizations to join the match campaign to foster the next generation of leaders in these vital fields.” 

“We are thankful for the support of the Lenz Charitable Trust and the Didion Foundation for their commitment to this project to allow us to provide expanded opportunities for students to learn where their food comes from and take an active role in learning how to grow plants and produce,” said Seichter. 

Seichter says their goal is to start construction on the new greenhouse in the spring or summer of 2025. See below for information on how to contribute to the Pardeeville greenhouse fundraising campaign. 

The success of the Didion Foundation annual golf outing underscores Didion’s commitment to making a positive impact and supporting essential services and educational programs. Didion extends a heartfelt thanks to all participants, sponsors, and donors for their unwavering support and generosity. 

Pardeeville Greenhouse donations can be sent to: 

PASD Agriculture and Food Science Department
Attn: Amanda Seichter
120 Oak Street
Pardeeville, WI 53954 

For any questions, please contact Amanda at seicam@pasdwi.org or 608-429-2153 ext. 361.

About Didion 

Didion is strongly rooted in the local community. For fifty-two years, Didion has supported various area efforts such as blood drives, flu clinics, school supply drives, Kiwanis programs, Habitat for Humanity, emergency services and first responders, among others. The Didion team, over 250 strong, shares our vision to positively impact the world. We pride ourselves on a culture that encourages collaboration, rewards hard work and supports each team member’s personal journey on and off the Didion campus.   

Didion, headquartered in Cambria, Wisconsin, was founded in 1972 and produces quality food and ethanol-based products. It is home to North America’s newest, most advanced dry corn mill and ethanol/alcohol facility. Didion uses a proprietary milling process to capture only the highest quality corn kernels for food processing and designs customized products that can meet specific customer needs for top food and industrial brands. The rest of the corn kernel is used to produce high quality byproducts, such as ethanol and livestock feed. In addition to corn flours, grits, meals, pregelatinized ingredients, and whole grains, Didion makes over 550 million corn- and soy-based famine relief meals each year for the USAID program through the USDA. These meals help to fight global hunger in four dozen developing nations.