Wisconsin potato grower Dick Okray was presented an Industry Award for his contributions to the potato industry in May at the 11th World Potato Congress in Dublin, Ireland.
Industry Awards also were presented to John Burke, Paul Struik and Antoon Wallays, according to a news release.
Okray honor
Okray was employed from 1982 to 2020 at Okray Family Farms in Plover, Wis., growing 7,750 acres of row crops in Central Wisconsin and specializing in fresh potatoes, the release said.
Following his retirement in 2020, he remains a co-owner of the family farm, which won a national environmental stewardship award for its outstanding achievement in the area of pesticide risk reduction, the release said.
Okray served on the executive committee of the U.S. Potato Board (now known as Potatoes USA) and has served as a potato industry ambassador from the U.S., attending multiple World Potato Congress events in China, Scotland, New Zealand and Peru, the release said.
He and his wife, Carol, were instrumental in helping raise funds to build multiple wells in impoverished villages near Cameroon, Africa. They established a WellersWalk event in Stevens Point, Wis., with participants filling and carrying large water jugs to a central location, raising awareness of the trek many villagers in Africa make daily just to gather enough water for their family’s needs, according to the release. Funds raised from the annual event were used to construct wells in areas around rural Cameroon, greatly improving the lives of thousands of villagers.
Active in his community and his industry, Okray has served on numerous organizations and boards, including Wisconsin Migrant Labor Council, Central Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., United Potato Growers of Wisconsin and the United Potato Growers of America, the release said.
Okray is also widely respected and admired for his philanthropic efforts, serving on the board of directors of the St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation, the Edward J. Okray Charitable Foundation and, recently, the Farming for the Future Foundation.
Okray served two terms, including one as chairman of the International Committee, for the U.S. Potato Board. He also served on the Wisconsin Potato Industry Board from 2015-2020 and held the position of vice president.
He received the WPVGA Agri-Communicator Award, the Portage County Business Council’s Outstanding Contribution to Agriculture Award and the prestigious University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Distinguished Alumni Award. In 2019, he was inducted into the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association Hall of Fame.
