Bernard Herman was born and raised on his family’s fruit farm in Bainbridge Township,
south of Coloma. He was the fifth generation on the family farm. He served three years in the
military in WWII before returning home to the farm. In 1950 he married Helen Dailey, the youngest
daughter of William Dailey, a well-known farmer in the area. They bought 60 acres next to his
family’s farm and farmed primarily tree fruit. The Herman’s have six children, all born during the 1950’s.
The farm expanded during the 1960’s as he bought neighboring farms and added them to the original farm.
He also started a nursery company with his father-in-law, growing fruit trees. The nursery was known
as Dailey, Matthews & Herman. They sold trees throughout the United States for the next two decades.
Bernard was a director of the Millburg Growers Exchange and one of the founding members of
Michigan Peach Sponsors. He also joined the National Peach Council and attended many of the
annual winner conventions across the country. In the 1970’s he was one of three elected to the
Michigan Board of Directors of Pro Fac Cooperative and served 12 years on the board.
During this period of time he also had as many as four of his children in college or postgraduate work.
Bernard is a member of the Knights of Columbus and attends the Watervliet Catholic Church.
He has served on the Watervliet Community Hospital Board.
In the 1980’s Bernard “officially retired” while continuing to work every day on the farm.
His son, Joe, relates this story: the day dad officially turned over the reins to me he
came out of the house that morning, as usual, and told me, “I’m going to work every day doing
what I see needs to be done. I don’t want anything to do with the help, and I’m not taking
orders from you.” A man of his word, and a man of few words, he has kept this promise for
over twenty years now! No one could have a better example as a father and a grandfather.
The Herman’s have 13 grandchildren.
The Michigan State Horticultural Society is pleased to present the Distinguished Service Award to
Bernard Herman, a life member of MSHS, for his many years of service to the Fruit Industry.