The Top 10 Potato Growers for the McCain Foods Easton, Maine French Fry plant were recognized at the annual McCain Grower Barbecue at the Presque Isle Inn and Convention Center in Presque Isle last month.
Almost 300 guests gathered to celebrate the 2017 growing season and recognize the top ten growers and their achievements.
Champion grower selection is based on the highest standing quality of the following three delivery categories: field direct delivery, winter storage delivery and refrigerated storage.
Leavitt Farms, LLC placed first in field direct category and second in the refrigerated storage category to receive the position of Champion Grower.
Randy Leavitt, owner of Leavitt Farms, LLC, said it was a great honor to receive the Champion Grower award.
Randy Leavitt, owner of Leavitt Farms, LLC:
“It’s something we have always strived for and it was an honor to receive it this year with my Dad and my oldest son present.”
“I credit the farms’ success to my hard working and dedicated crew and the knowledge passed down to me from my Dad.”
“I am proud of his legacy and we all work hard to make the farm look good, be good and do good every day. It was a great surprise this year.”
Allison McCain, Chairman of McCain Foods Limited, extended personal congratulations to the Leavitt family and all of the McCain growers. In his address, McCain expressed to the group the importance of their partnership and the value he places on the relationship and their business.
Other McCain management on hand to congratulate the growers included Christine Wentworth, VP of Agriculture North America, David Good, Director of Agriculture, Rodney Norquay, Senior Director of Manufacturing, Dale McCarthy, VP of Integrated Supply Chain, Dave Giroux, Easton Plant Manager and Bart Bradbury, Field Department Manager. Other special guests included Walter Whitcomb, Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation, Forestry, and Dave Lavway, Director of USDA Farm Service Agency.
Front row, left to right:, McCain VP of Integrated Supply Chain Dale McCarthy, Easton Plant Manager Dave Giroux, McCain Champion Growers Lloyd Leavitt, Landen Leavitt, Randy Leavitt, Lori Leavitt, Robert Butler, VP of Agriculture NA Christine Wentworth, Field Department Senior Field Rep Brianne O’Leary.
Middle Row left to right: Wayne Bradbury, Derek Kilcollins, Dana Wright, Brent Edgecomb, Taylor Butler, Kyle Blackstone, Clayton Roy, Ryan Guerrette,
Back Row left to right: Field Department Field Rep Jim Clark, Director of Agriculture NA David Good, Keith Labrie, Jacob Labrie, Dane Kingsbury, Colby Kingsbury, Ben Blackstone, Breen Blackstone, Brett Butler, Chairman of McCain Foods Limited Allison McCain, Field Department Scheduler/Storage Manager Brent Bradley, Field Department Manager Bart BradburyIn the category of Field Direct Delivery, G.R. Parent (Jamie Parent) of Hamlin claimed the top spot. Second place in this category went to Brent and Reginald Edgecomb of Limestone, and third place went to Clayton Roy Farms (Clayton Roy and Robert, Brett, and Taylor Butler) of Caswell.
In the Winter Storage Delivery category first place was awarded to Labrie Farms LLC (Dan, Keith, Duane, and Jacob Labrie). Second place in this category went to Wright Farms of Littleton (Dana and Jonathan Wright). Third place was awarded to Kyle Blackstone and Sons (Kyle, Ben, and Breen Blackstone).
In the Refrigerated Storage category, first place went to Kingsbury Family Farm of Bridgewater (Shane and Keith Kingsbury). Second Place in this category was awarded to Guerrette Farms Corp of Caribou (Ryan, Brian, and Andy Guerrette). Third place went to Snow Road Farms of Bridgewater (Derek Kilcollins and Wayne Bradbury).
