Remembering “100 Miracles”

On Saturday, August 5, 2006, exactly 20 years ago today, 100 Sargento production employees, then named the ‘100 Miracles,' became part of a story that captured attention far beyond Plymouth, Wisconsin. Together, they won more than $200 million in the national Powerball jackpot. It was the kind of once-in-a-lifetime moment most people only dream about, and for the Sargento employees who were part of the pool, it became a shared experience they would never forget.

But what made the story stand out was not only the size of the jackpot. It was what happened afterward.

“Bonnie Thibadeau had a Buddha statue, and I think it was the Friday before we won, she had left it in her locker so that it didn’t disrupt anything on the floor. She left her locker open so people could go in and rub its belly," said Mary Entringer, a now Sargento retiree who kept track of everyone's money.

"It was the first time she had brought the Buddha in.  I guess it was lucky and it worked!”

When the news broke on Saturday, exciting phone calls were made. Co-workers celebrated that Sunday at a bar in St. Cloud. Then the local and national media took notice, and the story quickly became one of those rare moments when everyday life changed overnight.

For many of the winners, the jackpot opened the door to new possibilities, from supporting family members and paying off bills to planning for the future with greater peace of mind. As a family-owned company, Sargento 2nd Generation CEO Lou Gentine made sure the winning employees were connected with financial planning resources as they navigated the shock of instant wealth.

After a meeting with Lou, Mary and Bonnie decided to drive the winning ticket down to Milwaukee to verify the win with a lawyer and police escort watching over them. She described the ride as “unbelievable.” 

The size of the prize and beating incredible odds aren't the most unusual details from the story. It's the fact that many of the winners chose to keep

their jobs at Sargento. Even after winning a life-changing amount of money, they continued showing up for their coworkers, their teams and the company that considers them family.

When asked about her time at Sargento, Mary reflected, “We were all friends and worked very close together at that time." Mary now lives up in Minocqua; her dream retirement place that she says was made possible by the miracle win.

Two decades later, the 2006 lottery win remains more than a fun fact in Sargento history. It has become a story employees still talk about — not just because of the jackpot, but because of what it revealed about the people and culture of Sargento. About 30 of the lottery winners are still believed to be actively employed at Sargento today. That number is a powerful reminder that while the win may have changed lives, it did not change the connection and Sense of Ownership many employees feel about their work, and the Mutual Support from their coworkers and their leaders.

Director of Logistics, Matt Schaub, is one of those “100 Miracles” employees who is still working today - he's also a long-time employee. Looking back at that time, Matt reflects on what he found most rewarding about the win.

“I think the best part of the whole thing, and what I love most about it, is there were 100 of us. I got to share this memory and excitement with a lot of other people. And it was people who I worked with every single day; it was my friends. That was probably the best part for me.”

When asked about how our culture played a role in the choice to stay, Matt symbolizes the answer. 

“It definitely does feel like family. I would say the culture has changed since then, but that’s because the family has just gotten bigger. I may not know as many people as I did 20 years ago, but the same family feeling is still here today."

Back then, the win brought joy, surprise and celebration to the factory floor. Today, it offers a chance to look back with gratitude and ask what the story still means. For some winners, it may represent freedom, security or the ability to enjoy retirement. For others, it's a simple reminder of what our founder, Leonard Gentine, asked each of us to do: 'Treat people like family."