b'2022 NPPGA Annual Meritorious Service Award and Chairmans BanquetThe2022AnnualNPPGA Chair- JeffVanRayofVanRayFarmsgated. mansandMeritoriousServicereceivedtheNPPGAsMeritorious AwardBanquetwasheldattheService Award at the banquet.Jeff and his wife, Diana have been Alerus Center in Grand Forks, Northmarried for 40 years and they have Dakota on Tuesday, February 15th.Jeff and his family have been grow- three children. Savanna is 38, Marc ingpotatoesfor28years.Theis 36, and Corey is 32. The banquet was well attended withVanRaysdecidedtogrowpotatoes over 220 growers and industry peo- for several reasons, but one of theTheentertainmentportionofthe ple. Everyone that was in attendanceforemost was that a potato produc- nightwaslightmusicbyJazzOn enjoyed a wonderful evening.tion facility was built in their back- Tap. yard, or at least close to it. DavidFedjefromHoople,NorthTheNPPGAwouldliketothank DakotaisthenewNPPGAThe Cavendish Farm Plant was built HoopleFarmersGrainCompany, Chairman.He was handed the gavelin1996.TheVanRaysgrowRussetOttoAg,BremerBankandthe from Matt VanRay of VanRay FarmsBurbanksforprocessedpotatoesNPPGA Potato Associates and all of ofPingree,NorthDakotawhoonly.Theyalsoraisewheat,corn,thesponsorswhohelpmakethis servedasChairmanforthepast2and soybeans. Most of the crops areevent successful year after year.years,extendedbecauseoftheused in rotation for potatoes. All of Covid pandemic. their 3,300 acres of potatoes are irri-NPPGA President,DonavonJohnson(left)presentsJeffVanRaythe2022NPPGA MeritoriousServiceawardatthe Chairmans Banquet and Gala.24 POTATO GROWER MARCH 2022'