Dec 6, 2021

Michigan State Horticultural Society marks 150th anniversary at GL EXPO

During the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable & Farm Market EXPO, Dec. 7-9, the Michigan State Horticultural Society (MSHS) will celebrate its 150th anniversary.

Highlights of the celebration in Grand Rapids include a historical timeline and raffle of a Kubota RTV520. The timeline will cover the last 150 years of fruit growing in Michigan, with each major fruit commodity covered as well as topical issues of the day.

Expo attendees will be able to see this Michigan fruit history in the Grand Gallery each day.

The Kubota RTV520 will be raffled Dec. 9. Tickets will be sold at the MSHS trust booth for $20 or three for $50 with all proceeds going to fund the trust.

In addition to the grand prize of the Kubota, secondary prizes will be drawn throughout the week of the EXPO. These prizes will include chainsaws, leaf blowers, loppers, coolers, swag bags and more. Attendees should plan to stop by the booth to pick up a free item, purchase raffle tickets and enjoy the historical timeline.

“The legacy of the Michigan State Horticultural Society is one of support and value to the Michigan fruit grower,” Ben Smith, executive secretary of MSHS, said in a news release.

“With the help of commodity committee partners, Michigan State University, and the great fruit growers of the state of Michigan, the board of the Michigan State Horticultural Society looks to continue this mission for the next 150 years.”

Founded in 1870, MSHS set out to “develop facts and promulgate information as to the best varieties of fruit for cultivation in the state of Michigan and the best methods of cultivation.”

The group met monthly to examine seasonal fruit and discuss growing methods, leading to the success of Michigan’s fruit industry. The first fruit research station was started with the help of T.T. Lyon, the longest-serving MSHS president and Michigan’s most noted and respected 19th-century pomologist.

With its monthly meetings and annual convention, the MSHS supplied Extension education before the MSU Extension program started. Additionally, Michigan saw the benefit of fruit grower education and paid to ship the annual report to all fruit growers on record.

Needing a tax-deductible method to receive donations, the MSHS board set up the MSHS Trust in 1984. Since then, the Trust has funded $2,068,974 in research projects through Michigan State University. These projects have provided valuable information helping Michigan fruit growers to be more successful.

Funded only through donations, the trust is always welcoming donations of cash, land, real estate or equipment. The current campaign is $150 for 150: Growers are asked to donate $150 in recognition of 150 years of fruit industry support.

The MSHS board, filled with volunteer fruit growers from around the state, looked for a project they could help fund to celebrate the 150^th anniversary.

In 2020, the board found a project that would continue the mission of supporting Michigan fruit growers through the funding of a building on the new West Central Research Station. MSHS donated $150,000 to create a meeting place for growers to learn the latest research results and network with their fellow growers and harkened back to the original goals of meetings of local growers to discuss fruit in season.

The Kubota RTV520 will be raffled Dec. 9. Photo: Michigan State Horticultural Society