Apr 27, 2021Chuck Troyer honored posthumously by Northern Plains Potato Growers Association
Chuck Troyer has posthumously been awarded the 2021 Northern Plains Potato Growers Association Meritorious Service Award.
Troyer passed away Dec. 3, 2020 at the age of 82. He was born in Smithville, Ohio and started working for Troyer Manufacturing out of high school, a company his father started.
He moved to East Grand Forks, Minnesota in 1961 and opened Troyer Manufacturing of the Red River Valley with his brother, Jim. They specialized in building and selling potato equipment.
When Troyer Manufacturing closed, Troyer went to work for TerraMarc and Harriston Industries. Later in life, Troyer worked for Black Gold Farms, primarily in Texas, as he would get farms set up for planting and harvesting.
“Chuck had a tremendous passion for potatoes and an even greater passion for potato people,” Eric Halverson, CEO, Black Gold Farms, told NPPGA. “He made many great contributions to the industry over the years. Chuck knew just about everyone, and they respected his knowledge regarding many things but potato equipment in particular.”
“His biggest contribution to the industry, however, in my opinion, was that Chuck was such a great person. He had an infectious laugh, and he was the type of person that was always willing to lend a hand. He loved hanging out and chatting with potato people, he put the interests of others ahead of himself. I can’t imagine the potato industry without Chuck as a part of it.”
Troyer was a lifelong potato associate and gave a great deal of his time to the potato industry.
Duane “Sarge” Preston was one of the Coffee Guys and knew Chuck for over 40 years. “Chuck was a fine man, a good man, always had a smile on his face and a great attitude,” Preston said. “He knew the potato business well and we enjoyed talking about the industry with a cup of coffee in the mornings.”
The NPPGA MSA award was presented to Troyer’s three daughters at Black Gold Farm’s Grand Forks, North Dakota office by Eric Halverson and Gregg Halverson.
He was most deserving of this award and will truly be missed by everyone.
— Northern Plains Potato Growers Association
