Dan Lake earns ag award
RONAN — Dan Lake of Ronan has been named 2011 Outstanding Ag Leaders by the College of Agriculture at Montana State University. The award is given to individuals across the state who are well-respected in the agricultural community, with accomplishments that impact many; have a lifetime of achievement in agriculture; are industry leaders or upcoming innovative producers; and are actively involved in the agricultural community in Montana.
“Montana is a very special place that is exemplified by its people whom are involved in agriculture, and specifically, our diverse awardees,” Jeff Jacobsen, dean of the College of Agriculture, said.
Diana Alkire of Bozeman and Richard Owen of Geraldine were also awarded. All three will be honored at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, at the Celebrating Agriculture Social in the Strand Union Building ballrooms on the MSU campus. The public is invited to attend.
“These leaders have been highly engaged with faculty, staff and students across departments and over decades in the MSU College of Agriculture,” Jacobsen said. “When I think about their home communities – Bozeman, Ronan, and Geraldine – it reinforces the real fabric of the people and their core values. Their achievements are certainly notable, but the stunning aspect of each individual is their life-long engagement to advancing agriculture.”
Today, Lake Seed Inc./Lake Glacier View Farm is a modern integrated family farming operation operated in partnership by the four Lake brothers (Dan, David, Pat and Tim). Their sisters, Ann Lamm and Theresa Pearson, are married and raising families. The operation is dependent on research-based information and is one of the first operations to integrate new technologies. The farm operation produces 400 acres of certified seed potatoes and 2,200 acres of certified and commercial small grains, oat and pea seed production. In addition to the potato tissue culture lab, the farm has a certified seed cleaning and seed treating facility. Lake Seed Inc./Lake Glacier View Farm received the National Small Business of the Year Award in 1997 from the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company.
Lake has served on the Northwestern Agricultural Research Center Advisory Board and the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station State Advisory Council. He is currently serving on the MSU President’s Advisory Council, Montana Potato Advisory Committee, and the National Potato Council. He also serves on the Montana FFA Alumni Board, the Lake County Fair Board and the First Interstate Bank Board. He is a member of the MSU Alumni Association.
Lake is married to Jan Lake. They have one son, Beau, and three daughters: Brianna, Bridgette and Brittinee.