Highly successful farmers carry a very high level of integrity in both business and their personal lives. Many are involved in leadership roles in both agriculture and in their communities.

They are truly “masters” at what they do. Michigan Farmer magazine, Michigan Agri-Business Association and Michigan Farm Radio Network recently partnered to honor Wallace “Wally” Huggett of Cheboygan, cash cropper Leon “Pete” Clark Jr. of Eagle, and Armon Southworth of Grand Ledge, who raises cash crops and beef cattle, as 2007 Master Farms.

The awardees were nominated by family or peers and were chosen by a committee of agriculture industry leaders based on farm management, innovation, conservation and leadership. They were honored at a luncheon in front of 300 guests at the Michigan Agri-Business Association’s Winter Conference in Lansing, Jan. 10.

Master Farmers received a plaque, Carhartt jacket and a $1,000 check, sponsored by Mosaic, Greenstone Farm Credit Services and Great Lakes Hybirds, Inc.

Wally Huggett

Huggett has had success with various endeavors in specialty agricultural commodities including mint and sod, and most recently cranberries. Wallace and his wife Sharon developed Huggett Sod Farm & Nursery Division near Marlette in Sanilac County from its original 150 acres in the early 1960s to nearly 1,000 acres today. Add in acreage near Cheboygan that is currently being used for cranberry beds, plus Trinity Turf Nursery – a turfgrass farm in Texas – and the farm operation totals about 2,400 acres.

As part of the sod farm operations, he designed and built a dehydration hammer-mill to dry and press grass clippings into feed pellets for chickens and rabbits, as well as equipment to sweep and transport the grass clippings to the mill.

He also designed and built his own sod big-roller harvester, and has modified other sod harvesters to be more usable under specific field conditions.

In 2002, Huggett sold the Sanilac County sod business to his son, Mark, who nominated his father as a Master Farmer. Mark was a 2005 Master Farmer.

Huggett says now that he is near retirement age, his role in the operation has changed, “I’m presently engaged in managing Michigan Cranberry Company in Cheboygan. That’s kind of a retirement project; yet it encompasses about 600 acres on which 150 acres of cranberries are now developed and under production. This has been a long start-up for about 15 years; and it still continues as we speak”

Armon Southworth

Southworth has consistently grown Harvest Moon Farms since 1976 from 58 acres to almost 750, while farming another 700 acres of rental ground. His footprint on agriculture continues to grow, but he’s also very well noted for his impact on those around him; willingness to share his knowledge by encouraging his son, Aaron, and others who want to pursue agriculture.

The mentoring of farm youth is a priority for Southworth, who spends countless hours in the barns during the Eaton County Fair helping kids get their animals ready and then by serving as carcass superintendent.

Southworth was recently named a regional champion in the “A non-irrigated class” for corn production yielding 243.5 bushels per acre.

He uses satellite imagery and GPS to determine soil types so that the optimum amount of fertilizer and lime can be applied on a site-specific basis. He also rotates crops to reduce insect and disease pressure.
In about five years, Southworth says it will be time to “start slowing down.” His plan is to help Aaron take over the farm.

Pete Clark

The Clark family is rooted in Michigan agriculture, having owned and farmed an 80-acre parcel in Clinton County’s Eagle Township since 1835.

To this day Clark still farms that parcel along with 10,000 additional acres of corn and soybeans. He serves as a Watertown Township trustee and is active on several boards and in community projects.

In 1974, Clark rented 300 acres from his father and planted his first crop. He credits his dad with schooling him on business sense and his Uncle Vic with teaching him a lot about farming
Today, Clark farms with the help of five full-time employees, five seasonal workers and one of his eight children, Jake.

On the farm, Clark is quite creative. The chemical barn is supported with trusses from the renovated Jack Breslin Student Events Center, home of the Michigan State Spartan basketball team.

And, three large equipment sheds on the farm are the rebuilt remains of airplane hangers that used to grace the Grand Ledge airport.

Being environmentally sound and having a good image in the community are part of the reasons why the farm is farmstead verified by the Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program.

“Pete is a leader in the industry, but it’s his passion for farming and his family that really makes him stand out,” says Don Seidl of US Bioenergy, who nominated Pete as a Master Farmer. “Pete has a strong dedication to family – his own, as well as those of his employees.”

The 2007 Master Farmers were honored Jan. 10 at the Lansing Center, Lansing.

Pictured (from left) are the winners and the program’s sponsors: Jennifer Vincent, Michigan Farmer editor; Bill Kushmaul of Great Lakes Hybirds; Pete Clark, Wally Huggett and Armon Southworth are Master Farmers; Jim Nowak of GreenStone Farm Credit Services; back row Janelle Brose, Michigan Farm Radio Network farm director; Gary Grigg of Great Lakes Hybirds, and Darryl Perry of Mosaic.

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