Potato Growers of Michigan (PGMI) President Dennis Iott, left, presents Representative Jerry Neyer, right, with the Golden Spud Award during the 2026 Winter Potato Conference at the Sheraton Grand Rapids Airport Hotel on Jan. 29, 2026.

PGMI recognizes Michigan House Ag Chair Jerry Neyer with Golden Spud Award

 

Potato Growers of Michigan, Inc. (PGMI) proudly presented its Golden Spud Award for 2025 to Representative Jerry Neyer during the Michigan Winter Potato Conference at the Sheraton Grand Rapids Airport Hotel on January 29, 2026. The award recognizes an elected official who demonstrates exceptional leadership and meaningful engagement on issues critical to Michigan’s potato industry and rural communities.

Representative Neyer has distinguished himself as a strong advocate for Michigan agriculture and a respected leader in the Michigan House of Representatives. During the current legislative session, he serves as Chair of the House Agriculture Committee, a key role in shaping agriculture policy and ensuring farmers’ voices are heard in Lansing.

In addition to his leadership on agriculture issues, Representative Neyer serves on several committees with direct relevance to the potato industry and rural Michigan, including the Insurance Committee, the Regulatory Reform Committee, and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Through these roles, he helps address a wide range of challenges facing farm families and agribusinesses — from insurance and risk management to regulatory improvements that support business viability, to infrastructure investments that ensure agricultural products can efficiently reach markets.

As a lifelong farmer with deep roots in Michigan agriculture, Representative Neyer brings firsthand experience to his legislative work. His background, paired with his influential committee assignments, makes him a uniquely effective advocate for specialty crops such as potatoes.

PGMI’s Golden Spud Award honors an elected official who goes beyond supporting agriculture in principle and actively engages in the complex policy discussions that impact the industry’s competitiveness, sustainability, and long-term success. Representative Neyer exemplifies that commitment through his leadership, accessibility, and willingness to listen and act.

“I am honored to accept this year’s PGMI Golden Spud Award. I am always glad to support one of the leading agricultural commodities in Michigan,” Neyer said. “I commend the PGMI for helping to influence and shape policy that provides competitive economic opportunities for our rural communities, and also removes red tape, allowing our local farms to succeed. I look forward to continuing to be a partner of the industry moving forward.”

PGMI President Dennis Iott, of Iott Seed Farms in Kalkaska, presented the award and praised Neyer’s practical approach to leadership.

“As a farmer himself, Representative Neyer brings real-life agricultural experience to his important role in our government,” Iott said. “He has a passion for food production and a genuine understanding of the challenges farmers face. That’s evident in the way he approaches his role as Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. It was my honor to present Jerry Neyer with this year’s Golden Spud Award.”

Representative Neyer has spent the past 30 years working on his family’s dairy farm, which includes approximately 150 cows, alongside his brother and nephew. He has also dedicated more than two decades to service on the Isabella County Farm Bureau, the Michigan Dairy Marketing Committee, and the Isabella County Planning Commission.

On behalf of Michigan’s potato growers and the broader potato industry, PGMI thanks Representative Neyer for his thoughtful leadership, service to rural communities, and tireless advocacy for Michigan agriculture.

The Golden Spud Award was created in 2025. The inaugural award went to Representative Angela Witwer (D-Delta Twp.).

About PGMI

Created in 1991, Potato Growers of Michigan, Inc. (PGMI) works to keep the legislature and decision makers in Lansing and Washington, D.C. informed on the needs of the Michigan potato industry.

As the key advocate for Michigan potato growers, PGMI members work to ensure that reliable economic data and sound science is the basis of decisions in Lansing that impact growers. 

Michigan Potato Facts

  • Michigan is among the top eight potato-producing states in the U.S. annually.
  • Michigan’s potato industry contributes nearly $2.5 billion annually to the state’s economy.
  • More than 21,000 Michigan jobs are supported by potato production and processing.
  • More than 48,000 acres in more than 40 Michigan counties are dedicated to growing potatoes.
  • Michigan’s annual potato harvest totals approximately 2 billion pounds.
  • Michigan leads the nation in producing potatoes for the chip processing industry. One out of every four bags of potato chips sold in the United States is filled with Michigan potatoes.