February 2020 - 15

GREAT LAKES EXPO NEWS
Michigan Vegetable Council honors grower, associate
By Stephen Kloosterman
Associate Editor
The Michigan Vegetable Council
(MVC) recognized two leading
individuals in the industry at a
December banquet during the Great
Lakes Fruit, Vegetable & Farm Market
EXPO in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Dowagiac, Michigan's Vic Shank,
best known for growing green beans at
scale, received the 2019 Master Farmer
Award. This award each year recognizes
well-managed and innovative farming
practices, as well as leadership roles in
industry and community organizations
and support of vegetable crop research.
Norm Tanis of Imlay City, a recently
retired crop representative, received the
Master Farmer Associate Award.
An innovative grower
Shank's operation, known as Central
Produce Sales, has been running since
1987, and has grown green beans in
Michigan since 1983. The farm grows
green beans in addition to some
apples, asparagus, squash and peas.
Central Produce Sales also coordinates
green bean sales for other growers.
" It was started with my Mom
and Dad, " Shank said in a video
presentation the council presented
at the banquet. " My father (Bill) had
done this his whole life, and it's what
I've done my whole life since I was
knee-high to him. Michigan's a great
growing area - probably the best place
in the whole country to grow green
beans, so that's why we're here. "
Clients of Central Produce Sales
have included Gerber (Nestlé Infant
Nutrition) which has purchased
green beans and butternut squash,
according to the video. Shank has
often collaborated with Michigan
VIC SHANK
NORM TANIS
State University (MSU) Extension
and MSU's Entomology Department
on experiments on green beans. One
current experiment is going on in his
asparagus fields.
Shank is a former president of
the MVC. His job can some days
involve checking on bean fields in six
different counties, but Shank said his
favorite part is still driving a tractor.
" It never gets boring, " Shank said of
his job. " I still get up every morning
looking forward to it. "
A friend of the industry
Tanis recently retired from a position
as a crop representative with Helena
Chemical. Tanis grew up around the
muck fields near Imlay city in the thumb
area of Michigan, and began working
in agriculture 1976. Before Helena, he
worked for Grower's Service and United
Agri Products. His long tenure in the
area's agriculture has led to some close
relationships with growers, for instance,
working with three generations of
growers at Van Dyk Farms.
" First and foremost, I want to say
thank you, " Tanis said in accepting the
award. " I mean to thank God for the
people he puts in your life. It's easy to
think we're in the chemical business,
we're in the vegetable business, the
fruit business - but we're in the
people business. "
Like Shank, he's also frequently
collaborated with MSU. One recent
project has included managing drones
for checking an orchard for apple
blossom density.
" I thank God for that relationship
with MSU, all my friends at MSU, "
he said. " I thank God for the people
and I thank God for the growers I
worked with every day, how we learned
together and how we worked together. "
A trade show treasure
Sharri German's years of service
to the Michigan State Horticultural
Society (MSHS) and the MVC were
also recognized at the awards banquet.
She married into the apple business,
tying the knot with Dave German
THANK YOU 2019 SPONSORS
These companies have provided financial support to help cover the cost of the
special events at the 2019 Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market EXPO.
Their support is greatly appreciated!
PLATINUM SPONSORS
A&B Packing
Arlene Resource Management
BASF
Bayer Crop Science
Brandt
CHS
Newaygo Insurance Agency
Nutrien Ag Solutions
Riverridge Produce Marketing Inc
Superior Sales
ThorPack, LLC
Valent
Wilbur-Ellis
GOLD SPONSORS
Gerber
Gowan USA
MBG Marketing - The Blueberry People
Michigan Freeze Pack
Netafim
Rockford Package Supply
Summit Tree Sales
SILVER SPONSORS
ABIS/JH Ward
Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan
FELCO
Helena Agri Enterprises LLC
MACMA
Payne West
Peterson Farms
Phil Brown Welding
Reister's Grower Services, LLC
Stokes Seeds, INC.
Syngenta
BRONZE SPONSORS
Honee Bear Canning
Miedema Asset Management
Putnam Plastics Farm Products
SHARRI GERMAN
a few months after graduating high
school together in 1968.
When the couple started to scale back
their growing business, she became
MSHS' first female treasurer in 1989 and
has served since that time - 30 years.
" This has been the longest a treasurer
has served the society in its 150-year
history, said Michigan State Horticultural
Society President Chris Kropf.
In 2000, she was hired for an
additional job as trade show manager
for the Great Lakes EXPO, a show
that's jointly presented with the MVC.
At the time of her hire, a brandnew
convention center, DeVos Place
was being built and she promised
she would one day fill up the entire
main hall with exhibitor booths -
she did that first in 2014, and the
exhibitions have since expanded into
additional space in a second hall of
the conference center. The show books
more than 450 exhibitors a year.
German is now retiring.
" Her services will be greatly
missed, " Kropf said. VGN
Industry Scholarship awards
were presented to deserving
students at the EXPO banquet.
These companies and
organizations made financial
contributions to make these
scholarships possible.
Bernie Swindeman Memorial Scholarship Fund
Breckenridge Insurance Agency
Dave Smith Michigan Vegetable Council Scholarship
Gerber
Great American Media Services
MACMA
Meister Media
Michigan State Horticultural Society
Nutrien Ag Solutions
Phil Korson Honorary Scholarship Fund
Syngenta
Valent
Wilbur-Ellis
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February 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of February 2020
