The Northern Plains Potato Growers Association held its banquet; event that included the passing of the chairman’s gavel from Rick Vivatson of Cavalier, ND, to Don Suda, a chip and frozen processing potato grower from Grafton, ND.

Ron Norman (photo) was honored with the Meritorious Service Award. Grafton potato grower and North Dakota State Senator Tom Campbell presented the award to Norman, who spent nearly 50 years managing fresh washplants and seed operations for the Ryan Potato Co., Ron Offutt and most recently Campbell Farms and Kroeker Farms, all at the same facility in East Grand Forks, MN.

National dignitaries of the potato industry were also in town, including John Keeling from the National Potato Council, Blair Richardson from the United States Potato Board and Jerry Wright from United Potato Growers of America.
All three are the chief executive officers of their respective organizations and used the NPPGA meetings and International Crop Expo to deliver speeches and talk directly with area growers about the issues facing the potato industry.

“All in all it was a very successful week,” NPPGA said in a press release.