The Minnesota Crop Improvement Association (MCIA) recently presented its highest honor, the Achievement in Crop Improvement Award, to Wayne Capistran, whose family-owned and operated business, Capistran Seed Company, is located in Crookston, Minnesota. The award, presented annually since 1972, recognizes exemplary service to the seed industry as well as outstanding leadership in agriculture. Wayne Capistran is committed to producing high-quality certified seed, provides honest information to his customers, and has a long record of service to the seed industry.
MCIA also recognized five Premier Seed Grower awardees, Duane and John Pazdernik of Waubun, Larry Rivard of Grand Forks, North Dakota, Richard (Dick) Stangler of Kilkenny, and Harmen Tande of Moorhead. 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. Journalist Andrea Johnson and University of Minnesota professor Kevin Smith were the recipients of MCIA’s Honorary Premier Seed Grower 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 119th Annual Meeting. The virtual event was hosted at MCIA’s office in St. Paul, Minnesota, on January 12, 2022.
