Wisconsin represented throughout Super Bowl performances and ads
WISCONSIN (CBS 58) -- Though the Green Bay Packers weren't in the Super Bowl and the game was played thousands of miles from Titletown, Sunday's super showdown between Seattle and New England had quite a bit of Wisconsin flavor!
The taste of Wisconsin came out in the moments between game action, including the halftime show and the tv commercials. From a Midwest farm to the sugar cane fields of Puerto Rico... Wisconsin was represented at Super Bowl 60.
"Never really thought that we'd be kind of front and center in the media stage," shared Jeremy Pavelski, president of Heartland Farms in Hancock, Wisconsin. His five-generation farm has been a part of Lay's Super Bowl commercials for two years now. Their family even inspired last year's commercial: "I think it's really exciting, because what it really does is it brings it home. Really talks about how, you know, it's real potatoes from real farms. And it may sound silly, but a lot of people don't understand where their food comes from."
The Pavelskis have been growing potatoes and partnering with Lay's for over 70 years. Now they're involved in "The Lay's Challenge," where a bag will go from potato to chip to door in 72 hours or less. But Pavelski says that's their standard.
"I think that most people don't realize how close to home it is. Wisconsin ranks third for overall potato production in the United States. So it's a really big economic driving force," he said.
Also close to home and performing on the national stage was Milwaukee-based Sista Strings. Sisters Chauntee and Monique Ross played alongside Brandi Carlisle in a rendition of "America the Beautiful."
Later, in the most-watched halftime performance of all time with more than 135 million viewers was Waukesha's Jay Ramos-Rivera! The 11-year-old with Puerto Rican roots danced in un baile inolvidable - an unforgettable dance, just feet away from Bad Bunny and Lady Gaga.
Another Wisconsin connection to Bad Bunny's performance is UW-Madison Professor Jorell Meléndez-Badillo; he helped provide historical narratives to accompany videos for Bad Bunny's album "Debí Tirar Más Fotos" which just last week won a Grammy for "Best Album of The Year."