Grain Place plans for leadership transition

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Foundation leads search for person(s) to grow organic mission, message

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  • This screen shot is from a 2017 documentary on The Grain Place and its founders, the late Don and his son David Vetter. The 77-minute film was titled, “Dreaming of a Vetter World.”
    This screen shot is from a 2017 documentary on The Grain Place and its founders, the late Don and his son David Vetter. The 77-minute film was titled, “Dreaming of a Vetter World.”
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A mission to grow crops organically and protect the soil on the Vetter family’s 280-acre farm near Marquette is on the verge of a transition, both in terms of ownership and leadership.
Established officially in 1978, The Grain Place has grown in scope and stature. Recognized nationally for its on-farm research and efforts to advance organic/regenerative agriculture, the operation now involves three separate entities -- The Grain Place, Inc., Grain Place Foods and Grain Place Foundation -- all of which are rooted in the soil. That has not changed since Day 1. What has evolved is the Vetter family’s effort to insure that the mission carries on for years to come.
At age 75, David Vetter, who returned to the family farm in 1975 and made The Grain Place his life’s work, has an eye to the future with plans for eventual retirement. Current farm manager Raymond Main is also planning for retirement, thus there is a growing sense of urgency for bringing in new leadership.
“We are looking for the right person(s) to whom we can transition leadership of The Grain Place and Grain Place Foundation,” reads a leadership opportunity posting on the company’s website. “After several decades of operating this pioneering organic farm, we are transferring ownership from the Vetter family to a scientific and educational non-profit, whose purpose is the advancement of organic/regenerative agriculture.”

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