Mar 4, 2016
Bakker to be honored during ANR Week

John Bakker, executive director of the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board, the Michigan Onion Committee, and the Michigan Carrot Committee, will receive the Distinguished Service Award from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) at Michigan State University (MSU) during the ANR Week Luncheon on March 8.JB_Photo

Bakker is one of three individuals who will be recognized with the Distinguished Service Award, given to individuals or partners who have made outstanding contributions to Michigan’s agriculture and natural resources industries.

For more than two decades Bakker worked as a pest and fertility crop consultant and field researcher for fruit and vegetable growers. He has been an advocate for the agriculture industry and for Michigan State University, where he studied soil science, horticulture and entomology.

Bakker has led the effort to secure two federal grants for asparagus growers — a $7.5 million grant from the Asparagus Market Loss Program and a $2 million grant from the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program. He was recognized with the MVC Master Farmer Associate Award in 2014 and the Friend of Oceana Agriculture Industry Award in 2009.

The other Distinguished Service Award recipients are William E. Moritz and Don Sklarczyk.

Tickets for the luncheon are on sale for $30 and are available at www.anrweek.anr.msu.edu.

The luncheon will be hosted by the CANR, MSUAgBioResearch, MSU Extension and the CANRAlumni Association, with support from Consumers Energy and DTE Energy.




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