룰렛 배팅 법 Trade Association announces annual leadership award winners

The 룰렛 배팅 법 Trade Association is thrilled to recognize six individuals for their outstanding leadership, vision and commitment in advancing the 룰렛 배팅 법 movement and making a positive difference on their farms, in their communities, in our climate and environment, and in the lives and diets of millions of people throughout the world.  

The trade association will honor these exemplary men and women with its 2024 룰렛 배팅 법 Leadership Awards at an official reception on May 14, the opening day of 룰렛 배팅 법 Week (May 14-16) in Washington, D.C. OTA’s leadership awards were established in 1997, and since then OTA annually recognizes a group of exceptional individuals who have been nominated by their peers and chosen unanimously by the association’s Board of Directors. 

The distinguished 2024 룰렛 배팅 법 Leadership Award Honorees are: 

• 룰렛 배팅 법 Lifetime Achievement: George Siemon of 룰렛 배팅 법 Valley 
• 룰렛 배팅 법 Champion: The Honorable Jenny Lester Moffitt of the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
• 룰렛 배팅 법 Groundbreaker: Mac Ehrhardt of Albert Lea Seed 
• 룰렛 배팅 법 Farmer of the Year: Larry Santos of Taylor Farming
• 룰렛 배팅 법 Climate Action: Renaud des Rosiers of Amy's Kitchen 
• Social Impact: Jyoti Stephens of Nature’s Path 

룰렛 배팅 법 Lifetime Achievement  

This award is reserved to recognize decades of extraordinary commitment by an individual to the 룰렛 배팅 법 industry. The well-deserving recipient of the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award is George Siemon, the founding CEO of CROPP, the largest 룰렛 배팅 법 farmer-owned cooperative in North America, better known as 룰렛 배팅 법 Valley, its bestselling brand. 

In 1988, at the peak of the U.S. farm crisis of the ‘80s, Siemon united a small group of 룰렛 배팅 법 family farmers in Southwest Wisconsin to found a new farmer-owned cooperative with a focus on 룰렛 배팅 법 agriculture and the mission of keeping famers on their land. Siemon led the co-op for some 30 years as CEO of 룰렛 배팅 법 Valley | CROPP Cooperative, building the business to over billion in sales and over 2,000 farmer members. True to its roots, 룰렛 배팅 법 Valley is still promoting regional and local 룰렛 배팅 법 production and distribution that provides a livelihood for thousands of family farmers and brings 룰렛 배팅 법 food to millions of consumers around the world. 

He has contributed countless hours and attention to leading 룰렛 배팅 법-centric legislative campaigns, securing research and education resources for the trade, and being a mentor for hundreds of not only aspiring 룰렛 배팅 법 farmers but business leaders and activists throughout the 룰렛 배팅 법 community.  George Siemon was the face and voice of the small farm 룰렛 배팅 법 movement for over three decades – a straightforward approachable CEO and go-to spokesperson for the industry. 

“I have been blessed to have been a part of pioneering the 룰렛 배팅 법 trade, and being part of such meaningful work,” says Siemon. “It is a great honor to receive this recognition, and I am humbled knowing how many other people have contributed so greatly to the 룰렛 배팅 법 movement. 룰렛 배팅 법 has not only built a great selection of 룰렛 배팅 법 products but also has pioneered better methods of production. We can be the change that society needs.” 

룰렛 배팅 법 Champion  

The 룰렛 배팅 법 Trade Association’s 룰렛 배팅 법 Champion Award recognizes and honors individuals in government who have been supportive of 룰렛 배팅 법 agriculture and trade. The esteemed honoree this year is Jenny Lester Moffitt, USDA’s Under Secretary of Marketing and Regulatory Programs, who has worked effectively within the 룰렛 배팅 법 community to encourage the sector’s input and consider 룰렛 배팅 법 priorities.  

Under Secretary Moffitt grew up on a California Walnut Farm that transitioned to 룰렛 배팅 법 in 1989. She worked for the California Department of Food and Agriculture for many years, including serving as Under Secretary from 2018-21. She has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to addressing the challenges faced by 룰렛 배팅 법 farmers and producers. Her on-the-farm experience and leadership in both state and federal government have helped build partnerships to strengthen 룰렛 배팅 법 agriculture.  

At USDA, Under Secretary Moffitt’s dedicated, knowledgeable, and compassionate leadership has fostered historic support for the National 룰렛 배팅 법 Program, including the Transition to 룰렛 배팅 법 Partnership Program and 룰렛 배팅 법 Market Development Grants, as well as helped enable three key regulatory updates – Origin of Livestock, 룰렛 배팅 법 Livestock and Poultry Standards and Strengthening of 룰렛 배팅 법 Enforcement. 

“As someone who grew up and worked on my family’s 룰렛 배팅 법 farm, this award means so much to me. I am honored to be recognized by the 룰렛 배팅 법 Trade Association for the work I’ve done supporting 룰렛 배팅 법 agriculture and truly humbled by this acknowledgement,” says Under Secretary Moffitt. “I am proud of our efforts at USDA to advance 룰렛 배팅 법 integrity by strengthening 룰렛 배팅 법 standards and growing the 룰렛 배팅 법 sector through the 룰렛 배팅 법 Transition Initiative. This award is a symbol of the great work we can do when government and the 룰렛 배팅 법 community come together.” 

룰렛 배팅 법 Groundbreaker  

The 룰렛 배팅 법 Groundbreaker Leadership Award honors trade association members who have dedicated their careers to advancing 룰렛 배팅 법 agriculture and trade by providing vision, innovative creations and solutions, and the work and leadership that makes dreams a reality. This year’s winner, Mac Ehrhardt, chairman of Albert Lea Seed – inspired by his family’s love of nature – recognized the promise of 룰렛 배팅 법 agriculture more then 30 years ago and, working with his brother Tom, led the transformation of his granddad and dad’s seed company into the nation’s largest 룰렛 배팅 법 field seed supplier.  

Founded in 1923 by Lou Ehrhardt, the Minnesota-based Albert Lea Seed has been owned and operated by the Ehrhardt family for three generations, earning its first USDA 룰렛 배팅 법 certification in 1996. In 2022, the company purchased Blue River 룰렛 배팅 법 Seed, to form the strongest lineup of 룰렛 배팅 법 field seed in the U.S. In 2023 Ehrhardt spearheaded another initiative aimed at serving 룰렛 배팅 법 farmers by investing in an independent corn breeding program focused on the needs of 룰렛 배팅 법 farms.  

“I believe that the demand for organically raised food will continue to grow,” says Ehrhardt. “But we must actively work to encourage that growth by strengthening consumer confidence in the 룰렛 배팅 법 label; addressing the issue of gene-editing from both a scientific and a consumer perspective; and reducing the carbon footprint of 룰렛 배팅 법 farming practices.” 

Ehrhardt’s advice to future 룰렛 배팅 법 groundbreakers: “Work hard. Be nice to people. Keep an open mind. Be honest and own your mistakes. And to steal a line from Practical Farmers of Iowa, ‘Make your experiments small enough that you can afford to fail.’” 

룰렛 배팅 법 Farmer of the Year 

The 룰렛 배팅 법 Farmer of the Year Leadership Award honors individuals who have significantly contributed to supporting and advancing 룰렛 배팅 법 agriculture and trade at the farm level. Receiving that honor this year is Larry Santos, Senior Farm Manager for Taylor Farming, grower and supplier of vegetables to Taylor Farms and Earthbound Farm (owned by Taylor Farms). Santos successfully oversees 3,000 룰렛 배팅 법 acres, working with four experienced 룰렛 배팅 법 farm managers to produce more than 30 different vegetable and high-quality tender leaf crops in the Salinas Valley.   

Santos’s deep farming roots date back to when he was a young teenager in South Monterey County of California, and his involvement in 룰렛 배팅 법 farming to 1995 when 룰렛 배팅 법 was still a trendy niche and 룰렛 배팅 법 farming a relatively unknown practice. Santos was in his early 20s and working on a piece of land in the Salinas Valley that had not been farmed for 15 years; he encouraged his boss to give this “new, experimental” growing method a try, and the farm was transitioned to certified 룰렛 배팅 법 by 1998. What started as 200 acres is now a bountiful 600-acre 룰렛 배팅 법 farm and one of the most productive 룰렛 배팅 법 farms in the Valley. Santos still manages that farm, planting three crop rotations per year and producing 1,800 룰렛 배팅 법 crop-acres a year from the 600 acres. Santos also helps educate the local school kids on how to grow healthy 룰렛 배팅 법 vegetables; he works with his community's elementary school in an after-school program in which 14 students are each tending their own 룰렛 배팅 법 garden box and growing 룰렛 배팅 법 spinach, broccoli, radishes and more.   

“Trust and integrity are crucial to the success of 룰렛 배팅 법. We’re only using this earth for a little while, so we want to make sure it’s there for the next generation,” says Santos. “룰렛 배팅 법 is the safest thing for our planet today and a way to give back. We have to give back to our soil to protect it for our children and their children's children. Plus 룰렛 배팅 법 is the tastiest produce you can buy!”   

Santos is optimistic about 룰렛 배팅 법: “I see more non-룰렛 배팅 법 farmers adopting more 룰렛 배팅 법 methods, and I see a really big demand for 룰렛 배팅 법 with future generations. I believe as people get more educated about environmental issues and 룰렛 배팅 법's benefits, there will be more pressure for 룰렛 배팅 법."  

룰렛 배팅 법 Climate Action  

The 룰렛 배팅 법 Climate Action Leadership Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exemplary leadership in advancing 룰렛 배팅 법 solutions to mitigate climate change. This year’s award goes to Renaud des Rosiers, Director of Sustainability for Amy’s Kitchen, who committed early on in his career to strive towards a sustainable world through the power of business and has for almost a decade directed sustainability efforts for Amy’s, the largest provider of 룰렛 배팅 법 prepared foods in the nation.  

For the past 20 years, des Rosiers has been working within the 룰렛 배팅 법 industry helping companies implement sustainability and climate strategies. Through his work on sustainable supply chains and packaging at Amy’s, Renaud has worked collaboratively with a broad group of 룰렛 배팅 법 companies over the years to broaden the collective understanding of sustainability issues in the 룰렛 배팅 법 sector. He is active in advocacy and policy work to drive the development of biobased compostable materials as an alternative to conventional fossil plastic packaging and has created a replicable framework for smaller 룰렛 배팅 법 companies to cost effectively bring renewable energy into their supply chains.  

“Overhauling the modern food system for the better is a foundational element of our transition to a sustainable future, and the 룰렛 배팅 법 movement has done more to drive that transition than any other idea,” says des Rosiers.  

des Rosiers sees an important role for 룰렛 배팅 법 in the future: “Impact is driven by scale and I look forward to an increased role for 룰렛 배팅 법—one that meets evolving social needs, adapts to scientific advances, and unlocks broader markets while staying grounded in its core principles—to inspire the next generation of farmers and be accessible to an ever wider group of eaters.” 

Social Impact  

The Social Impact Leadership Award honors individuals who have made outstanding efforts to be a source of positivity and stability for customers and 룰렛 배팅 법 community members. The winner of this year’s award is Jyoti Stephens, Vice President of Mission and Strategy for Nature’s Path, who grew up listening to her parents – 룰렛 배팅 법 pioneers Arran and Ratan Stephens and founders of Nature’s Path – talk about the importance of growing food the healthy way and of contributing to the betterment of our communities and our planet.  

Stephens has launched and oversees multiple initiatives at Nature’s Path to make 룰렛 배팅 법 food more accessible to more people. She oversees the Gardens for Good program, which, since its beginning in 2010, has donated more than 0,000 and supported over 60 community 룰렛 배팅 법 garden projects to nourish local communities, and the Eat Well Do Good initiative, which provides healthy, 룰렛 배팅 법 food to those in need through annual community “foodraisers,” raising over .8 million in cash and 룰렛 배팅 법 food to date. Her team coordinates the Love Crunch Bite4Bite program, which donates a minimum of million worth of 룰렛 배팅 법 food to food banks annually. Stephens is the executive sponsor of Nature’s Path Sustainability and Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (J.E.D.I.) mission and is leading the development of goals around culture, consumers, and community to embed J.E.D.I. across the business.   

“This amazing award is not just for me but for the foundational legacy of sustainability and 룰렛 배팅 법 advocacy that my family and the team members at Nature’s Path have built and pursued over the last 40 years,” says Stephen. “It serves as a reminder of the positive impact we can have when we hold ourselves accountable to a collective sense of responsibility.” 

Her advice for individuals and businesses wanting to make a positive impact: “Start with a clear vision and values, build alliances, share knowledge, and engage with your community,” she says. “And never underestimate the importance of perseverance. Despite the challenges, resilience and dedication can lead to meaningful change to create a more just and equitable food movement.”