M A R C H 2 0 1 8 20 POTATO GROWER 2018 NPPGA Annual Meritorious Service Award and Chairman’s Banquet The 2018 Annual NPPGA Chairman’s and Meritorious Service Award Banquet was held at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota on Tuesday, February 20th. The banquet was well attended with over 225 growers and industry peo- ple on hand to enjoy an evening of fun. Eric Halverson, CEO of Black Gold Farms is the new NPPGA Chairman (article on Eric Halverson on page 13). He was handed the gavel from Greg Campbell of Campbell Farms, Grafton, North Dakota who served as chairman for the past year. Willem Scrhage was this year’s recipient of the NPPGA Meritious Service Award. Willem Schrage retired April 4, 2016 from the North Dakota State Seed Department. Willem joined the Seed Department in September of 2007 after a long, distinguished and geographically diverse career in the potato industry. Willem directed field inspection, shipping point, tis- sue culture/greenhouse, winter test, grower relations and seed regulatory aspects of the NDSSD Seed Potato Program. Before North Dakota Seed Willem was Head of the Potato Inspection Program for the Minn- esota Department of Agriculture for 13 years. 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 year’s event successful. Without your continued support, events like these would not be pos- sible. Outgoing NPPGA Chairman Greg Campbell presents Willem Schrage with the NPPGA Meritorious Service award at the Chairman’s Banquet Held at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota.