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PrintLeadership award for Nugent
Don Nugent, a Michigan State University trustee and owner of Graceland Fruit, was recognized for his service.
Don Nugent has been an MSU trustee since 1994.
A Michigan State University trustee who’s been a leader in the Michigan fruit industry received an award for distinguished service to agriculture and natural resources.
Donald Nugent, owner of Graceland Fruit, Frankfort, Michigan, was recognized for his commitment to agriculture and leadership at the community, state, and national levels.
After graduating from MSU in 1965 with a bachelor’s degree in horticulture, Nugent purchased Elberta Packing Company in 1973 and formed Graceland Fruit Cooperative Inc. As orchardist and chief executive officer of Graceland, Nugent has been an industry leader, developing new products and innovative processes for processing fruits and vegetables. He developed a process for making “raisins” from tart cherries and has extended that process to cranberries.
Nugent and his wife, Gail, have been lifelong supporters of MSU. He was elected to the MSU board in 1994 and is serving his second eight-year term. He was a member of the innovative Kellogg Young Farmer’s Study Program in the 1970s and credits this experience with the development of his leadership skills.
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