Nov 3, 2009

New Hort Society Leader: Grower Involvement Vital

Mark Drake got into the fruit business in a not so unusual way: He married the farmer’s daughter.

Now, as of this December, he’ll become the next president of the Michigan State Horticultural Society.

Besides owning a partial interest in a large fruit operation, Mark and his wife Karen also own a 65-acre farm near Suttons Bay on Michigan’s Leelanau Peninsula that is currently being leased to that fruit operation while Mark works full-time for Don and Bob Gregory at Cherry Bay Orchards.

Cherry Bay is one of the largest fruit operations in Michigan, growing more than 2,000 acres of tart and sweet cherries as well as some apples and pears. They also process tart cherries and dry fruit.

“It has been a great experience working at Cherry Bay,” Mark said. “I have a lot of good friends there and have been able to see how a very large operation gets the job done. Bob and Don are fortunate to have surrounded themselves with good people and create a very successful business.”

Mark and Karen’s son Joshua also works at the same operation with him.

“Mark works in a supervisory role, implementing good horticultural practices in our spraying and harvesting,” Bob Gregory said. “He’s a player-coach.”

Karen worked her entire life on the farm and now grows produce to sell in the many farm markets she attends four times a week, including markets in Suttons Bay, Traverse City, Glen Lake and Leland. Their daughter Melissa recently concluded seven years service in the Navy, serving aboard the Harry S Truman, one the largest nuclear-powered carries in the Navy. She now works at Covered Wagon Farm Market where she bakes and waits on customers selling fruits and vegetables.

Mark started his education in Traverse City and earns an associates degree from Northwestern Michigan University in 1973, before transferring to Michigan State University and earning his bachelor’s degree in horticulture in 1975.

Mark has served on several ag-related boards over the years, devoting time to the Northwest Farm Bureau board, the Leelanau County Society board (past president) and is now president of the board of the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Foundation board.

“I’ve felt privileged to have served on the various board over the years,” Mark said. “I’ve always tried to keep the good of the industry in mind when making important decisions. It has also been a great way to meet people, not only in the fruit industry but in other aspects of agriculture. My wife and I were lucky enough to go to Washington, D.C., and represent the northwest Michigan growers and farmers, meeting senators and representatives to discuss key issues with them. It’s vital that growers become involved in the industry to assure that our interests are heard and our way of life protected. We are a very small industry and need to have our voices heard.”

Involvement in industry issues makes Mark enjoy his position in the horticultural industry. He’s been on the Michigan State Horticultural Society board for eight years, coming in as a representative for the northwest Michigan fruit industry.

He was active in the Leelanau County Horticulture Society for more than 20 years. He was also on the board and a past president of the Northwest Michigan Research Station Foundation.

The Northwest Station is owned by growers, unlike other research stations, but it is staffed by Michigan State University. Its board plays a large role in determining the nature of the research that will be done at the Northwest station.

At the state level, the Michigan State Horticultural Society also plays a role in defining the land grant university’s research agenda and the society’s trust fund has contributed more than a million dollars to research over the last 20 years.

“We have challenging times ahead of us, and I will do all that I can to assist the fruit growers of Michigan to keep at the forefront of our industry,” Mark said.

In a nutshell, he’s looking forward to serving as the hort society’s next president.