Joseph B. Klein was born on April 27, 1946 in Sparta, Mich. His parents were Royal and Bernice Klein. Joe graduated from Sparta High School in1964 and attended Michigan State University before returning to the family farm. He and his wife, Sharon, have been married for 41 years. His son, Joe, works with him on the family farm. Joe and Sharon also have a daughter, Kara, and 4 grandchildren.
His father, Royal, started planting apples in the ‘40s with 50 acres of standard apple trees. His farm has grown to 170 acres of semi-dwarf and dwarf apples. His acreage also includes six acres of pick-your-own and picked sweet cherry trees. In 1957, his father built a CA room that held 5,000 bushel crates. Today that has expanded to 4 CA rooms that hold about 75,000 bushel with state-of-the-art technology.
During his farming career, Joe has been involved in a number of organizations and committees over the years. He served on the MSHS Board and was president in 2004. While serving on the MSHS Board, he also served on the Great Lakes EXPO Board. He has served on the Kent County Farm Bureau Board, the MACMA Board, and the Farm Credit Association Board. He also has been involved in several committees, Clarksville Experiment Station Advisory Committee and Farm Bureau Fruit and Vegetable Advisory Committee. He is also a member of the Midwest Pomesters.
Joe has been very active in Christ Lutheran Church serving as an Elder and a co-chair of the Building Committee. He has been president of the Mamrelund Lutheran Church Council. He has served for over 35 years as Secretary/Treasurer of Jack Brown Produce and was recently appointed to the U.S. Apple Association Board.
One of Joe’s greatest pleasures in life has been working with his father, and now his son, Joe Jr. Joe looks forward to his grandson helping grandpa on the farm as well.
The Michigan State Horticultural Society is pleased to present the Distinguished Service Award to Joseph Klein for his many years of service to the Fruit Industry.