Lehnert to be honored with ANR Distinguished Service Award during ANR Week
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EmailRichard H. Lehnert, associate editor of Good Fruit Grower, will receive the Distinguished Service Award from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) at Michigan State University (MSU) March 10 during the ANR Week Luncheon.
Richard H. Lehnert, associate editor of Good Fruit Grower, will receive the Distinguished Service Award from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) at Michigan State University (MSU) March 10 during the ANR Week Luncheon.
Lehnert is one of three individuals from across the state who will be recognized with the Distinguished Service Award, which is given to individuals or partners who have made outstanding contributions to Michigan’s agriculture and natural resources industries, and who possess high standards of integrity and character and positively reflect and enhance the prestige of the CANR. They demonstrate a commitment to MSU and the CANR by continuing outstanding levels of leadership and volunteerism at the state, national or international level.
A 1963 MSU alumnus, Lehnert served the Michigan agriculture sector as editorial assistant and editor of Michigan Farmer. Additionally, he owned and operated his own communications agency for another decade. An award-winning journalist, Lehnert was managing editor of Fruit Growers News and associate editor of Vegetable Growers News.
He earned national recognition for his reporting when the fire-retardant chemical PBB was mistakenly added to animal feed, leading to the destruction of thousands of cattle, pigs and chickens. For this, he received the Detroit Press Club Foundation Professional Award. He received the Heath Cooer Rigdon Conservation Writer Award for his coverage of soil conservation.
Lehnert lives on six acres in Trufant, Michigan, surrounded by irrigated farmland, where he maintains a small orchard, a large garden and a small flock of sheep.
The other Distinguished Service Award recipients are:
- William L. Sheridan, auctioneer and Realtor.
- David L. Smith, executive director of the Michigan Vegetable Council.
Tickets for the luncheon are on sale for $30 and are available at www.anrweek.anr.msu.edu.
The luncheon will be hosted by the CANR, MSU AgBioResearch, MSU Extension and the CANR Alumni Association, with support from Consumers Energy and DTE Energy. This year marks the 100th celebration of ANR Week.
