Father Of The Year 2026 Winner
ARMADA, MI – Ronald Szalka is the Better Made Snack Foods Father of the Year for his caring nature toward his family and his friends, as well as his life-long love of everything Better Made! This following touching note was sent in by his daughter, Acadia Szalka, and was chosen as the 2026 winner.
Here is an excerpt from Acadia’s entry:
If you asked my dad what the four most important things in his life are, he’d probably say his wife, his two kids, and Better Made chips. Honestly, anyone who knows him knows that’s pretty accurate. My dad has been a Better Made fan for as long as I can remember, and it’s one of those little things that always brings him joy.
But the reason I’m nominating him isn’t because he’s probably Better Made’s biggest fan. It’s because he’s the kind of dad every kid deserves. When my brother and I were growing up, my mom worked while my dad stayed home and raised us. He was the one making lunches, helping with homework, driving us wherever we needed to be, and always putting our family first. He gave so much of himself to make sure we had everything we needed, and he never once asked for recognition. To him, that’s just what being a dad means.
Even now, he spends so much of his time taking care of others. Our family fosters puppies in need, and if I’m being honest, he probably does 80% of the work. He falls in love with every dog that comes through our home and gives them the same patience and kindness he gave my brother and me. In fact, I’ve even caught him sharing his Better Made chips with our foster dogs. Around here, that’s the highest form of love.
The last few years have been some of the toughest of his life. After being diagnosed with prostate cancer, he faced every appointment, treatment, and challenge with incredible strength and determination. Through it all, he never stopped putting the people he loves first. He continued to be the same caring husband, devoted dad, and puppy-loving grandpa to all of our foster dogs. Last April, after a long fight, he finally got to ring the bell and celebrate being in recovery (picture of this day attached). Although he’s still dealing with the lasting side effects of treatment, he continues to face each day with the same quiet strength and positive attitude that have always defined him. Our family couldn’t be more proud of him.
Whenever he’s having a long day, I stop and buy him a bag of Better Made chips. It sounds simple, but it’s one of those little things that always seems to make him smile. To me, Better Made has become more than just his favorite snack—it’s a reminder of home, family, and all the little moments we’ve shared together.
My dad would never call himself Father of the Year. He’d probably laugh and say there are dads more deserving. But to my brother and me, he has always been Father of the Year. He raised us with kindness, patience, and unconditional love. He taught us the importance of taking care of others, whether that’s your family, a stranger, or a scared little foster puppy that just needs a chance.
Founded in 1930 in Detroit as Cross and Peters, and now in its 95th year, Better Made continues to develop and provide a wide variety of high-quality award-winning snack foods, including assorted original and flavored potato chips and potato sticks, gourmet popcorn, pretzels, tortilla chips, pork rinds, and more! The family-owned company uses locally grown potatoes and the finest oils and ingredients. For more information, please visit www.bettermade.com. You may also follow Better Made on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, and X. Michigan Made – Better Made, now featured all around Michigan in your favorite food outlets.