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M A R C H 2 0 1 614 POTATO GROWER 2016 NPPGA Annual Meritorious Service Award and Chairmans Banquet The 2016 Annual NPPGA Meritorious Service Award and Chairmans Banquet was held at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks North Dakota on Tuesday February 16th. The banquet was well attended with around 230 growers and industry people on hand to enjoy an evening of fun. Lonnie Spokely a certified seed and fresh market grower from Nielsville Minnesota is the new NPPGA Chairman. He was handed the gavel from Don Suda chip grower from Grafton North Dakota who served as chairman for the past year. Carl Hoverson of Hoverson Farms was this years recipient of the NPPGA Meritious Service Award. Carl Hoverson is currently the Chairman of the US Potato Board and was a past Chairman of the NPPGA. Duane Sarge Preston introduced Carl at the banquet and talked about his career and everything he has done for the potato industry. Chairman Don Suda presented Carl with the MSA award. The National Potato Councils Executive Vice President and CEO John Keeling was on hand to present the NPCs Seed Grower of the Year Award posthumously to the Orvil Gilleshammer family. The award is typically presented at the NPCs Annual Meeting in January but the family was unable to make the trip to Las Vegas to accept the award because of the untimely death of Orvils widow Joy just three days before the event. A short presentation was still made in Las Vegas with Brad Nilson stepping in to accept the award on the familys behalf but arrangements were also made to honor Orvil in Grand Forks at NPPGAs annual meeting. Orvils grand- son Preston Thiele accepted the award with other family members present. The entertainment portion of the night was light music by Jazz On Tap with a social before the speakers and then another social after the speakers where everyone could visit. The NPPGA would like to thank Cenex Harvest States Bremer Bank and the NPPGA Potato Associates and all of the sponsors who helped make this years event successful. Without your contin- ued support events like these would not be possible. NPC Executive Vice President and CEO John Keeling left presents Preston Thiele and extended family with the NPC Seed Grower Of The Year award given posthumously to Orvil Gilleshammer.