By SHELLY STRAUTZ-SPRINGBORN
Michigan Correspondent

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Longtime farmer, community activist and philanthropist Don Nugent, of Frankfort, was recently named the 2010 recipient of the Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award.
The honor was bestowed upon Nugent during a Dec. 2 banquet at the MFB 91st annual Meeting at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and DeVos Place in Grand Rapids.

“In considering recipients for the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award, the Michigan Farm Bureau looks for individuals who have made differences, which have improved the economic status and image of Michigan agriculture and Don Nugent certainly fits the bill based on his many innovative, entrepreneurial and positive efforts over the years,” said MFB President Wayne H. Wood.

Nugent’s agricultural career began at the ripe age of 19 when he purchased a strawberry farm. While continuing to farm, he earned a bachelor’s degree in horticulture from Michigan State University (MSU) and partnered with his father to grow fruit and raise cattle on Nugent Farms. In 1973, he purchased Elberta Packing Company and formed Graceland Fruit, Inc., which today is Benzie County’s largest employer. He has been president and CEO of Graceland Fruit, Inc., since its beginning.

As founder of Graceland Fruit Cooperative, Inc., Nugent set his mind to expand markets for sour cherries. Graceland initially was formed as a local processing plant for tart cherry growers, but soon expanded it capabilities and offering. A freezer mishap in the 1980s provided Graceland Fruit with 250,000 pounds of tart cherries.

“All of a sudden I had a quarter of a million pounds of cherries for free,” Nugent said in a video produced by Michigan Farm Bureau, which was shown during the award presentation. “So, I went and bought a little tray dryer and we put it up. I started spending my winters for the next few years figuring out how to make a dried cherry that was soft, tasted good, had good color and was shelf stable.”

In the video, Phil Korson, executive director of the Cherry Marketing Institute, said Nugent “really was a pioneer for our industry in a lot of different ways. He developed the innovation – the drying technique for dried cherries and the process that goes along with that.

“The industry had to transition from cherry pie filling to something that is new and modern. Dried cherries are a great example of that,” he said.

“Dried cherries today are one of the fastest categories that we have. Over the last 20 years, we’ve seen a growth in that category of about 20 percent per year.”

Throughout the years and under Nugent’s leadership, Graceland grew from a four-person cooperative and emerged as a world leader and manufacturer of dried cherries and infused dried fruits and vegetable ingredients.

Today, Graceland continues to develop new markets for Michigan fruit and vegetable farmers. Its workforce has grown to about 225, including Don and Gail Nugent’s son, Steve, who serves the company as its Chief Operating Officer.

The Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award is MFB’s highest honor and recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the state’s agriculture industry. Recipients are selected by the MFB Board of Directors based on nominations submitted by county Farm Bureaus and representatives of the agriculture industry.

In nominating Nugent for the award, Jeffrey Armstrong, dean of the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, praised Nugent’s pioneering activities and his long-time relationship with MSU.

“(Don) has sought advice and incorporated new technology ... and provided important feedback to MSU during his nearly 50 years in agriculture,” Armstrong said. “Through his relationship with MSU, Don impacted thousands of Michigan farmers and agricultural industry ventures and continues to do so.”
Nugent has also served 16 years on the MSU Board of Trustees and in this role has been a “passionate and active voice for agricultural interests at the university,” Armstrong said.

“He has nobly represented the state’s farmers and agricultural producers and advocated for the university’s support of the industry through research, teaching and outreach.”

Nugent served on the Michigan Commission of Agriculture from 1991-1994 and during that time was appointed to Gov. John Engler’s Farmland and Agriculture Development Task Force.

He also served 14 years on the MFB Board of Directors, where he was elected by his peers to serve on the board’s executive committee.

“Don Nugent’s commitment to agriculture also stood out in his involvement with the Michigan Farm Bureau,” said Wood. “During his tenure he played a significant role in helping to shape the future of Farm Bureau for its farmer members.”

Over the years Nugent has also provided leadership for banks, economic development groups and numerous professional and civic organizations. He is a past member of the USDA federal cherry marketing order of the Cherry Administrative Board, past member of the American Farm Bureau Fruit and Nut Advisory Commission and others.
He and his wife, Gail, own the 1,100-acre Nugent Farms, near Frankfort, where they grow cherries and apples.