The Flowers Family Foundation recently presented its sixth Wisconsin Business Achievement Award to transportation equipment manufacturer Stoughton Trailers during a luncheon at the Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern in La Crosse.
The award recognizes the company for its positive influence on the state economy.
Stoughton has evolved from trailer manufacturer to a oneâstop semitrailer resource. It is the fifth largest semitrailer manufacturer in the US, the second largest manufacturer in Dane County and one of the largest private manufacturing companies in Wisconsin, providing jobs for more than 1,600 people, Stoughton said.
The family-owned companyâs operations are housed in seven Wisconsin facilities on four campuses, including corporate offices, sales offices and manufacturing plants in Stoughton, Evansville and Brodhead.
âStoughton Trailers is on a fiveâyear run of record trailer production and the highest market share to date,â June Bunting, Flowers Family Foundation president, wrote in a letter notifying the company of its selection for the award. âJust in the last decade, employee headcount and revenues have grown six-fold.â
The award comes with a $75,000 prize to be presented to an organization of Stoughtonâs choosing, and the company said it plans to match the funds and donate $150,000 toward the purchase and installation of artificial turf at Collins Field.
âWeâre incredibly thankful to the Flowers Family Foundation for choosing Stoughton Trailers for this distinguished award, and weâre honored to join the ranks of other well-respected companies throughout the state that are making a significant impact on Wisconsinâs thriving economic landscape,â said Bob Wahlin, Stoughton Trailers president. âWe plan to use this gift to seed the fund for an artificial turf field for the Stoughton community.
âInstalling turf will allow the field to support more frequent, year-round activity, and open up many new opportunities for community use.â
The combined contribution from the Flowers Family Foundation and Stoughton Trailers will lay the foundation for the fieldâs development.
âWe are grateful to Stoughton Trailers for its ongoing support of our academic and athletic programs,â said Mel Dow, athletic director at Stoughton High School. âThis donation was a gracious surprise. The potential benefits of artificial turf include fewer weather-related cancellations, reduced maintenance costs and expanded access to school and community programs.
âThis donation provides generous seed money for our district and our stakeholders to explore private fundraising possibilities that could support this project.â
