Jim Kukowski, a Strathcona farmer and certified seed producer, received the Minnesota Crop Improvement Association’s highest honor, the Achievement in Crop Improvement Award, at the organization’s annual meeting in Fergus Falls.

The award is presented annually to recognize exemplary service by an individual to agriculture and the seed industry. The award is sponsored by The Farmer.

Kukowski — who farms with his wife, Marilyn — raises soybeans, corn and wheat. He has produced certified seed for more than three decades. He started in the seed business as a contract grower and today is one of the state’s largest seed growers, producing public and private varieties. He also owns and operates an approved seed conditioning plant.

In the past, he was honored as MCIA's Premier Seedsman. He has served and continues to serve in various capacities within MCIA, including on the board of directors and several committees.

Jim Kukowski holds his MCIA Achievement in Crop Improvement Award.

Kukowski is active in various organizations, putting thousands of miles on his pickup truck as he travels around the state. He has been involved in commodity organizations, such as the Minnesota Wheat Growers Association and Minnesota Soybean Growers Association. With MSGA, he has been honored for being a top recruiter, and he is on MSGA's Environmental Stewardship Action Team, working to ensure that policy regarding conservation practices make sense for farmers.

Locally, he served as chairman of the county Farm Service Agency committee, and he was also appointed to an advisory committee for the state Natural Resources Conservation Service. He is a board member of the Two Rivers Watershed District, seeing involvement for more than 13 years in water management issues for northwestern Minnesota.

Kukowski and his wife are passionate and vocal supporters of agriculture. They also offer their farm as a host site for annual University of Minnesota research trials.

Premier Seedsman awards
Other awards presented at the MCIA annual meeting were the Premier and Honorary Premier Seedsman awards.

Duane Dahlman, Pete and Mike Friederichs, and Grass and Sons Seed Inc. received Premier Seedsman awards. The award, presented annually since 1929, recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a long-term commitment to the production and promotion of high-quality certified seed, and have been active in MCIA and their local communities.

Duane Dahlman of Cokato and the Dahlman family have been producing certified seed corn since 1922. Today, as Dahlman Farms Inc., Duane Dahlman and his brothers Kevin and Craig concentrate on producing traited and conventional hybrid seed corn varieties for the wholesale market. In addition to being the company's chief financial officer, Duane is the seed plant manager, responsible for the drying, processing, and bagging their seed production. Duane is active in a number of local organizations, including the Wright County Soil and Water Conservation District, local and state 4-H, and Dassel-Cokato Basketball Association. He has provided many years of service to MCIA, including three years as board chairman.

Pete and Mike Friederichs of Foxhome are the fourth generation to operate the Friederichs farm, producing certified seed in the southern end of the Red River Valley. Pete and Mike, who are cousins, have been involved in all aspects of seed production, from planting through harvest and conditioning. Brothers Robert (Pete's father) and the late John Friederichs (Mike's father) began growing foundation seed for MCIA in the late 1960s. That tradition continues as Pete and Mike cooperate to produce and distribute high-quality foundation seed. In addition to handling seed, Friederichs Seed also processes and packages food-grade sunflower and soybean products. Pete and Mike are active in the state soybean, wheat, and barley commodity groups. Pete currently serves as president of the National Barley Growers Association and Mike serves on the Minnesota Barley Research and Promotion Council.

Grass and Sons Seed of LeRoy, in southeast Minnesota, has been in the seed business for more than 70 years. Dave Lunning is the most recent generation to own the business, having taken over from his father, John Grass Jr. Grass and Sons produce, condition and bag certified oats and soybean seed, as well as seed for private companies. They also clean and package organic and non-GMO food-grade soybeans. In addition to being members of MCIA, Grass and Sons belong to the Midwest Shippers Association and Global Organic Alliance. Involved locally, Lunning has served on the local school board and the LeRoy Community Foundation.

Honorary Seedsman award
Jody Prudhomme of Shoreview received the Honorary Premier Seedsman Award, which is presented to an individual who demonstrates outstanding support of agriculture and MCIA, yet is not directly involved in the seed industry. Prudhomme has been employed at MCIA for over 18 years. She serves as the certification specialist working with seed producers and approved facilities, assisting them with all aspects of seed certification. She is the staff liaison for the Agronomic Standards Committee, helps conduct seed certification training and workshops, and provides input for revisions to MCIA programs and procedures.

Founded in 1903, MCIA continues its role as Minnesota’s official seed certification agency. MCIA also provides a wide range of other services, including identity-preserved grain certification, quality assurance programs, forage and mulch certification, and native seed certification. MCIA is an accredited organic certification agency, and the foundation seed program serves as the exclusive agent for the marketing of University of Minnesota agronomic crop varieties.

For more information, call MCIA at 800-510-6242 or visit online at mncia.org.

Source: MCIA