It’s that time again when farmers, agribusiness professionals and others involved in the agricultural industry have the opportunity to nominate the “best of the best” for the Master Farmer awards, presented in February.

For the 13th straight year, Michigan Farmer magazine will present the Michigan Master Farmer awards to three outstanding producers.

Winners are chosen by a committee of agriculture industry leaders based on farm management, innovation, conservation, leadership and community involvement.

The award will be presented during an honorary luncheon, sponsored by Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee, Corn Marketing Program Committee and Michigan Wheat Program, at the Great Lakes Crop Summit on Feb. 1 at Soaring Eagle and Casino in Mount Pleasant.

The award is named the same year that it’s given because it acknowledges a lifetime of achievement and not a single year.

Master Farmers receive a plaque from Michigan Farmer and a Carhartt jacket, donated by Carhartt. They also each receive a $1,000 check, made possible by sponsors Michigan Agricultural Commodities, Wilbur-Ellis and Greenstone Farm Credit Services.

All three farmers are featured in the March issue of Michigan Farmer magazine, and tribute videos will be developed by Brownfield Ag News and be played during the awards luncheon.

Nominate a Master Farmer by clicking on the blue "DOWNLOAD" button at the end of this story for an application. Don’t delay, the deadline is Dec. 1.

Master Farmer History

2005
Fred Tubbs
Mark Huggett
Walter Stafford

2006
Dennis Hasenick
Bob Dykhuis
Dave Morris (honorary)

2007
Pete Clark
Wally Huggett
Armon Southworth

2008
John Crumbaugh
Todd Young
Kurt Ewald

2009
Andy Snider
Dale Weburg
George Weburg
Clark Humrich

2010
Paul Rood
Jeffery Sandborn
Carl Moore

2011
Ken Swanson
Gary Bardenhagen
Bill Irrer

2012
Ronald Helmreich
John Felzke
Frank Lipinski

2013
Earl Barks
John Swanson
Tony Jandernoa

2014
Richard Dobbins
John Schaendorf
Harley Sietsema

2015
Olan and Kent Humm
Robert “Alan” Moore
Richard Lauwers

2016
Delbert Crumbaugh
Brian Haskin
Andy Welden

2017
Tim Brodbeck
Ken and Ida Wadsworth
David Williams