GRAND RAPIDS, MI (WTVB) – Bronson’s Dale Norton, former president of the National Pork Board, has been named co-recipients of the 2016 Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award at the 97th Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) Annual Meeting.Norton, a partner at Kendale Farms in Bronson, is a board member and past president of the Michigan Pork Producers Association (MPPA) and is chair of the Michigan Swine Health Committee. He was appointed by former Gov. Jennifer Granholm to the Michigan Ag Commission, which he served as a member of from 2005-09.Former president of the National Pork Board, Branch County swine producer Dale Norton earned MFB’s 2016 Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award.
The Branch County native has been involved in the pork industry at the state level for more than two decades.
“Dale has willingly contributed his time and talents to the pork industry,” MPPA Executive Vice President Sam Hines said. “He is a visionary leader who has worked very hard to make the industry better for all producers.”
Also selected for the award was Fred L. Poston, former dean of Michigan State University’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
DSA award recipients are selected by the MFB Board of Directors based on nominations submitted by county Farm Bureaus and other agriculture industry representatives. In considering applicants, the board looks for individuals who have helped improve the status of Michigan agriculture.MFB is the state’s largest farm organization, representing the interests of more than 45,000 farm families.
