MCIA Presents Annual Awards

On January 25, 2029, Minnesota Crop Improvement Association presented its highest honor, the Achievement in Crop Improvement Award, to brothers Mac Ehrhardt and Tom Ehrhardt of Albert Lea Seed. The award, presented annually since 1972, recognizes exemplary service to the seed industry as well as outstanding leadership in agriculture.

The recipients of MCIA’s Honorary Premier Seed Grower Award this year were retired MCIA field inspector Lonnie Perrine and Brent Turnipseed, Professor Emeritus of Agronomy, South Dakota State University. This award recognizes individuals not directly involved in seed production but who have actively supported the seed industry, MCIA, and their local community. MCIA has presented this award annually since 1930.

The awards were presented at the Minnesota Crop Improvement Association’s 122nd Annual Meeting. The event was held at the Holiday Inn and Suites in St. Cloud, Minnesota, January 29, 2025.

Following are brief profiles of each awardee. More detailed coverage will be provided in the spring issue of the Minnesota Seed Grower.

Achievement in Crop Improvement Award

Mac Ehrhardt accepts MCIA’s Achievement in Crop Improvement Award from Kevin Schulz, editor of the Farmer magazine.

Mac Ehrhardt and Tom Ehrhardt are third-generation co-owners of Albert Lea Seed, a family business located in southern Minnesota, founded in 1923. At the start, it provided seed and other farm supplies. As children, the two brothers did age-appropriate work for the business, sweeping the seed conditioning plant and bagging seed potatoes and garden seeds. After graduating from college, both brothers found their way back home and eventually assumed leadership of the family business, working side-by-side for over thirty years.

While the company has always worked with a wide range of certified crop species, their growth and niche has been in nontraited and organic seed. Albert Lea Seed became one of the top suppliers of non-GMO and organic seed in the United States. Their Blue River Organic, Viking Non-GMO, and Albert Lea Seed product lines are well known across the country. Their success story continues today with over 40 employees and 6,000 customers across the Midwest and beyond. The business has adopted a stock-ownership structure that will, over time, transition ownership of the company to an employee group, establishing the next generation of management.

Mac and Tom’s involvement with MCIA runs deep, as heirs to decades of certified seed production and as advocates for new program development; for example, MCIA’s Non-GMO Seed Traceability and 99.9% Non-GMO programs.

The Ehrhardt brothers have worked with countless farmers and seed producers across the state, building relationships as well as a tremendous reputation. Among Albert Lea Seeds’ innovations are online seed sales, field days, and crop production conferences. Tom and Mac have both said that personal relationships with their customers and seeing their customers’ success in the field have been two of the greatest rewards of Albert Lea Seeds’ business.

Mac Ehrhardt accepted the Achievement in Crop Improvement Award, saying, “I’m really honored because I feel like I’m accepting it on behalf of everybody in my company, because it’s a team.”

Premier Seed Grower Awards

Brad Barth, Chairman of the MCIA Board of Directors, receives MCIA’s Premier Seed Grower Award from Fawad Shah, MCIA President/CEO.

Brad Barth, of Thief River Falls, grew up in northern Minnesota, and was introduced to farming through his father’s work in agriculture. However, Brad’s first career, lasting 17 years, was in accounting. Around 1997, he and his wife, Joyce, started Brad Barth Farms, doing custom work and their own crop production. About 10 years later, they built an MCIA-approved, on-farm seed conditioning facility and seed business.

Today, Brad Barth Farms grows certified wheat varieties that they sell and supply to many area growers and MCIA Approved Facilities. Almost all their soybean seed production is for a private company.

Brad has served on the MCIA Board of Directors for six years, five of those years as chairman. Hosting the AOSCA annual meeting in Minesota in 2023 was a highlight of his board tenure.

Brian Jensen, recipient of MCIA’s Premier Seed Grower Award.

Brian and Betsy Jensen, of Stephen, farm from the edge of the Lake Agassiz beach ridge to the heart of the Red River Valley. Brian grew up on his family’s farm near Stephen, Minnesota. Betsy grew up near Bricelyn, Minnesota. Her family had a crop and livestock farm and owned a Case farm equipment dealership.

The two met while studying at NDSU. After they married, Brian returned to the farm and seed business; Betsy worked as a commodity broker. A few years later, she began teaching farm management at Northland College. She has also conducted marketing classes and written a regular column for Prairie Grains magazine.

Brian and Betsy have continued to grow their farm, raising wheat, barley, soybeans, sugar beets, canola, and pinto beans. Their seed business, Jensen Seed Co., conditions certified seed and does custom cleaning. They raise and condition MCIA foundation seed. Brian and Betsy are very active in their local community.

Maynard Peterson, recipient of MCIA’s Premier Seed Grower Award.

Maynard Peterson, of Stephen, grew up in a farming family in northwest Minnesota and northeast North Dakota. He attended East Grand Forks Technical college for diesel mechanics, all the while working on the family farm. After college, he worked for neighboring farmers, and at his own farm operation. His farm grew, field by field. Maynard’s certified seed production started when a nearby farmer, John Jensen, asked him to grow certified seed, as Jensen Seed Co. had an on-farm seed conditioning facility. Seed production became an important part of the farm.

Today the farm grows wheat, soybeans, sugar beets, corn, and canola. Seed production continues for both certified wheat and soybeans for a private company. Maynard says he has always enjoyed growing crops, raising seed, and the great friendships he has made in the seed business.

Honorary Premier Seed Grower Awards

Lonnie Perrine, recipient of MCIA’s Honorary Premier Seed Grower Award.

Lonnie Perrine, of Perham, began working for MCIA as a part-time field inspector in 1999. He inspected his final fields for MCIA in 2021. Over the years, Lonnie has inspected tens of thousands of acres of small grains and soybeans. He also inspected approved seed conditioner and bulk handling facilities for 10 years.

Describing varieties is both a technical ability and art. Through the years, Lonnie’s report writing and documentation became well known for their detail, clarity, and professionalism. Lonnie provided MCIA with one of its most valuable inspection tools ever: “Lonnie’s Soybean Grading” card. It is used by MCIA’s inspectors to determine the timing of field inspections.

Lonnie and his wife, Linda, have lived on their farm in the Perham area for over 47 years. Lonnie was recently recognized by his local church for over 50 years of dedication as a member of the worship team.

Brent Turnipseed, recipient of MCIA’s Honorary Premier Seed Grower Award.

Brent Turnipseed has had a long and illustrious academic career. In his 33 years (so far) at South Dakota State University he has served as an assistant department head, professor, seed laboratory manager, student advisor, research lead, and crops team coach. Today, in what is described as a “working retirement transition,” he serves as Interim Department Head of the Agronomy, Horticulture, and Plant Science Department. Brent’s seed laboratory work and research, along with his teaching and student advising, is well known throughout the Midwest and the entire country.

Brent has worked closely with MCIA in many aspects of seed testing, including conducting all seed tests on MCIA samples for many years and, today, the SDSU Seed Laboratory partners with MCIA on tests that need to be outsourced.

There is no way to truly measure the impact Brent has made on his students, staff, and the seed industry over the years. His contributions may best be described as unmeasurable.


Call for Award Nominees

Recipients of the 1943 Premier Seedsman Award: Hiram Johnson, Conrad Nietfeld, Charles V. Simpson, and Oscar J. Olson.

We encourage members to submit nominations for MCIA’s annual Honorary Premier Seedsman, Premier Seedsman, and Achievement in Crop Improvement awards, which will be presented at the MCIA Annual Meeting, January 12, 2022.

If you know a producer, seed conditioner, or supporter of MCIA deserving of recognition for their service to the seed industry, involvement in MCIA, and contributions to their community, or if you have questions about nomination requirements, please contact Roger Wippler at 1-800-510-6242 or by e-mail at wippl002@umn.edu.


MCIA Presents Annual Awards

On January 13, 2021, Minnesota Crop Improvement Association presented its highest honor, the Achievement in Crop Improvement Award, to Dr. Don Wyse, Professor of Agronomy and Plant Genetics at the University of Minnesota. The award, presented annually since 1972, recognizes exemplary service to the seed industry as well as outstanding leadership in agriculture. Dr. Wyse has made significant contributions to grass seed production and is a well-respected teacher, researcher, and leader.

MCIA also recognized four Premier Seedsman awardees, Bob Ehlers of Elbow Lake, Clyde Kringlen of McIntosh, and Dean Terning and Dennis Terning of Cokato. Each year since 1928, MCIA has presented this award to recognize individuals or partners involved in quality seed production, active in MCIA, and who provide excellent service to the seed industry. University of Minnesota research scientist Donn Vellekson and veteran MCIA field inspector Randy Krzmarzick were the recipients of MCIA’s Honorary Premier Seedsman Award, which recognizes individuals not directly involved in seed production but who have actively supported the seed industry, MCIA, and their local community. MCIA has presented this award annually since 1930.

The awards were presented at the Minnesota Crop Improvement Association’s 118th Annual Meeting. The virtual event was hosted at MCIA’s office in St. Paul, Minnesota, January 13, 2021.

Achievement in Crop Improvement Award

Donald Wyse, Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, looking at intermediate wheat grass, a perennial. Photo by David L. Hansen. © Regents of the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Don Wyse, University of Minnesota, professor and researcher, came to Minnesota in 1974 to accept a weed scientist position. The focus of his work quickly became quackgrass control in Kentucky bluegrass. Thus began a 45-year relationship with the grass seed producers in northern Minnesota. His work has been a key part in the success of the grass seed industry in Minnesota but has also benefited others in agriculture. He is a well-respected teacher, researcher, and leader. Don has taken the collaborative philosophy that helped the grass seed industry succeed and applied it to other initiatives in which he has been involved. Today, through the Forever Green Initiative, his work focuses on Kernza and other perennial and winter annual crops.

Read more about Dr. Wyse’s contributions to northern Minnesota’s grass seed industry here.

Premier Seedsman Awards

Bob Ehlers; Dean (back), Dennis (front), Doris (left) and Tonya Terning (right); Clyde Kringlen. Photos used by permission of the awardees.

Bob Ehlers has been a certified seed producer for 45 years. Today he owns and operates Red River Marketing Company near Elbow Lake. His entry into the seed business was based on the belief that, “Good year or bad, farmers will need quality seed every year.” Today he grows certified wheat and soybean seed. With a degree in agricultural engineering from the University of Minnesota, Bob built his own approved seed conditioning facility in 1994; he was also a partner in building a second seed facility in Thompson, North Dakota. Bob is an active MCIA member, serving as vice chair of the board of directors. He has also been active in various local organizations, including his church and area school board.

Clyde Kringlen has been associated with certified seed since he and his father purchased McIntosh Farm Service in 1981. Operating their MCIA-approved seed facility, he worked with local seed growers conditioning and selling certified wheat, oats, and barley. Over the years, Clyde developed a passion for wheat production and today manages wheat seed production for West Central Ag Services. He sees the value of wheat in the rotation and enjoys seeing the advancements being made in wheat production. Clyde has also served his community in a variety of ways including the McIntosh Fire and Rescue, St. Mary’s Church, and the Larry Sing golf tournament to support ALS research.

Dean and Dennis Terning, of Cokato, grew up in a seed corn producing family. They also grew certified seed of small grains and soybeans, conditioning it in a seed plant built by their father Ralph. The brothers did all the jobs necessary for seed production and learned the importance of quality. In 1985, Dean and Dennis began producing hybrid seed corn for their retail brand, Terning Seeds. Those first two hybrids have grown into a large-scale seed corn production operation. Today they can produce, harvest, and dry seed corn from over 6,000 acres. They continue to work with other local seed companies and say much of their success is due to great employees who take pride in producing high quality seed.

Honorary Premier Seedsman Awards

Donn Vellekson and Randy Krzmarzick. Photos used by permission of the awardees.

Donn Vellekson began working at the University of Minnesota, St. Paul, in 1975. As a research scientist, his career has been devoted to turf grass and forage seed production research. He grew up on a crop and livestock farm near Dawson, Minnesota, and graduated from the University of Minnesota, Crookston. Initially, his work focused on Kentucky bluegrass, timothy, and birdsfoot trefoil. Much of Donn’s work is done at the Magnusson Research Farm near Roseau and today perennial ryegrass is a primary emphasis. Over the years, he has received great cooperation from farmers and seed processors in the Roseau and Lake of the Woods area. Donn’s work on fertility, herbicides, winter hardiness, and seed production has been instrumental in the success of the Minnesota grass seed industry.

Randy Krzmarzick has been a reliable MCIA field inspector for 22 years. From his home farm near Sleepy Eye, he has walked thousands of acres across southwest Minnesota. Inspecting fields of oats, wheat, soybeans, and occasionally corn, Randy is a key part of the seed certification process. Each field must be evaluated prior to harvest for varietal purity, other crops, and weeds. His part-time work provides him the opportunity to meet people from family-owned operations to multinational corporations. As someone who loves the outdoors, he enjoys walking fields and is proud to play a small part in seed production. Randy is also involved in the Brown County Farmers Union, St. Mary’s Church, and the Sleepy Eye area food shelf.