Michigan State Horticultural Society
Distinguished Service Award
Donald W. Nugent, a
life member of the Michigan State Horticultural Society, is a resident of Frankfort, MI,
and owns and operates Nugent Farms, producing cherries and apples in Benzie and
Leelanau counties. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Graceland Fruit
Cooperative, Inc. Don has made many contributions to the horticultural industry
and has provided outstanding leadership to our industry and to related
organizations and agencies. Don married Gail Smeltzer,
the daughter of a Manistee
County fruit grower. They
have two children, Steve and Amy. Steve is married with four children and works
at Graceland as Vice President, responsible
for marketing. Amy is married with one child and lives in Ontario.
After graduation from Michigan State
University in 1965, Don
focused on growing cherries and apples and in working with a group of
colleagues to improve marketing of these crops by establishing Graceland Fruit
Cooperative, Inc. in 1973. Then following a large cherry crop in 1985 and with
problems commonly associated with merchandising a large crop, he explored
alternative ways of increasing the options of marketing sour cherries. With
entrepreneurial energy and with considerable risk, they installed their first
cherry fruit dryer. After several years of learning, researching, fine-tuning,
and adding new facilities, Graceland emerged
as a significant processor of dried cherries, blueberries, and other
fruits.
His vision in exploring and developing the practice of
drying of fruits and vegetables has provided new market outlets at value-added
prices. This practice is expanding and increasing marketing opportunities for
our fruits and vegetables. His personal efforts and determination in this exciting
development have been widely recognized.
Don is involved in
several organizations, serving as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at
Michigan State University, Board of Directors of the Frankfort Chamber of
Commerce, Chairman of the Board of Directors of West Michigan National Bank
& Trust. He is a past member of the Michigan Farm Bureau Board of
Directors, and was a member of the Michigan Commission of Agriculture and
Chairman for two years, to mention a few.
Some other awards
Don has received include Michigan Exporter of the Year 1998, Michigan
Manufacturer of the Year 1999, and USDA Edward R. Madigan Excellence in
Agriculture Award 2002. It is with great please that the Michigan State
Horticultural Society present the 2005 Distinguished
Service Award to Donald W. Nugent.