Turkey farmer was famous 'Worm Czar'Sroda and pet, Herman, appeared on Letterman, 'The Tonight Show'By AMY RABIDEAU SILVERS
Posted: Sept. 2, 2004
Self-proclaimed, but never disputed, George Sroda of Amherst Junction was best known as the "Worm Czar."
Sroda was a turkey farmer who found his fortune in worms or, more accurately, products for the care and feeding of worms. A gifted entrepreneur and self-promoter, Sroda took his most famous worm - a night crawler named Herman - on everything from "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" to the old "What's My Line?" and "To Tell the Truth" shows. Sroda died Tuesday in Amherst, about six months after he was diagnosed with cancer. He was 93. He was born and raised in Stevens Point, then moved to Amherst Junction, where his parents bought a general store. He began working in the feed business and decided to start raising turkeys. That was in 1945. Turkey was selling for about 19 cents a pound, and it was an easy way to not make money. Sroda began thinking about how to raise and market a better bird, soon commanding prices of 80 cents a pound for turkeys shipped to Hollywood movie stars and for corporate gifts. So it went for about 20 years. Then a couple of things happened about the same time. Sroda discovered that worms thrived in the peat moss on the ground under the turkey pens. And he realized that too many people fished with worms that no self-respecting fish would touch. He began studying how to raise healthier worms, keeping his early specimens in the family refrigerator, where they once invaded the salad. His wife "never did get over that," he later said. "Had to find a new place for them." Sroda ended up developing his "Magic Worm Products," worm feed and bedding for fishermen and gardeners, plus a better bait container. At the height of his research, Sroda kept at least 2 million worms at his worm laboratory, not a one for sale. He wrote his first book, "No Angle Left Unturned: Facts About Nightcrawlers and Redworms," with plenty of how-to advice about raising worms. He also chose Herman to be his sidekick. Like his master, Herman came from humble beginnings, plucked from obscurity when he was only 31/2 inches long. Under Sroda's care, Herman grew to prodigious proportions, reaching 161/2 inches. Together they appeared with Carson on "The Tonight Show" in 1973 and with David Letterman a couple of times, though Letterman declined to taste the worm cookies. Other appearances included seven visits with Mike Douglas. "I've been on 18 different national talk shows, but everyone remembers me from the Johnny Carson show," he said in 1992. He later wrote a children's book about Herman and even nominated the worm to become the official mascot of the Big Apple. Herman, dipped in non-toxic paint, could create squiggly impressionistic drawings. He also learned to shoot a tiny little basketball. "This is no ordinary worm," Sroda once declared. "Herman is the most talked about and seen worm in the world." Herman was believed to be about 20 years old when he died. In 1975, Sroda sold the business, now called Magic Products, Inc., said owner Donn Schwarze. Sroda continued to act as a consultant until a few years ago. His millions of research worms were put out to pasture. "He enjoyed the promotional aspect of it," Schwarze said. "And he loved telling people about worms." A freelance photographer, Sroda also sold photos to the Milwaukee newspapers. "He graduated from high school, lived in Portage County his whole life, and he did all this," said Sroda's son, Thomas. "He was a salesman his whole life. He could sell anything." Sroda's wife, Susan, died six years ago. Survivors include another son, Richard, and grandchildren. Services will be held in Amherst, Wis., Tuesday and Wednesday.
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