Dawn Drake was born and raised in Lansing, Michigan. In 1980, she began her professional
career at the headquarter offices of the former Michigan Farm Bureau affiliates Farm Bureau
Services, Inc. and Farmers Petroleum Cooperative, Inc.
Dawn started out as an Administrative Assistant in the Member & Public Relations Department
promoting grain, seed, feed, fertilizer, farm supplies, and the fuel products of those two
companies across the state of Michigan. In October 1982, Farm Bureau Services filed Chapter
11 bankruptcy and she was involved with many tasks associated with the bankruptcy filing.
The new company, Agra Land, Inc., was formed in 1984.
In November of 1984 she began working in the Apple Division of the Michigan Agricultural
Cooperative Marketing Association, or MACMA. She served in various capacities until being
appointed Manager of the Processing Apple Division in November 2003. She now manages the
development of the annual financial budget and operational plan for the division; however,
bargaining for minimum processing apple prices is one of her most important and proud
responsibilities of association leadership. Since 2005, the association has increased
minimum processing apple prices by 75%.
She has worked closely with the Michigan Congressional Delegation on legislation affecting
Michigan apple producers. Some of the legislative and regulatory issues include Fireblight
research funding, apple market loss assistance programs, weather related disaster assistance
programs, and implementation of the Tree Assistance Program (TAP) in the 2002 Farm Bill.
In addition to working closely with the USDA on school lunch and domestic feeding programs,
Dawn also assisted in negotiating new USDA purchases of apple-cherry juice as well as
assisted in the launching of the 2008 pilot program for fresh cut apple slices.
Dawn serves as a Director for the National Council of Bargaining Cooperatives Board.
She is a board member of the US Apple Education Committee, and board member of the US
Apple China Working Group. Dawn is also actively involved in other industry activities
and works closely with members of the Michigan Apple Committee, US Apple, Michigan State
Horticultural Society, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Michigan State University.
Dawn and husband Dale reside in Paw Paw and they have three grown children, Danielle,
Dustin, and Daniel.
The Michigan State Horticultural Society is pleased to present the Distinguished Service Award to Dawn Drake for her many years of service to the Fruit Industry.