IFTA Awards

IFTA’s Annual Awards are presented at the Annual Conference to those members furthering IFTA’s mission and the fruit tree industry.

Award categories

IFTA‘s awards are given in the following categories:

Hall of Fame

The Association’s highest honor, reserved for those that have made a lasting impact on IFTA, IFTA members, and the fruit tree industry.

Industry Service

Presented to an IFTA member that has distinguished himself/herself in IFTA or IFTA Foundation service.

Outstanding Researcher Award

Given to recognize excellence in applied research.

Outstanding Extension Educator Award

Reserved for members of Extension services that demonstrate a deep commitment to horticultural education and serving the needs of the tree fruit grower.

Carlson Lecturer

Each year, a special session at the IFTA Annual Conference is given by the Carlson Lecturer. This honor was named for Dr, Robert Carlson, the Michigan State University professor of horticulture, who in 1958 was appointed by department chair H.B. Tukey to provide management services to the newly formed Dwarf Fruit Tree Association (which later became IFTA). He created Compact Fruit Tree, the association’s publication, and organized the tours that took IFTA members around the world to evaluate high-density fruit systems.

Bob Black, IFTA Hall of Fame Inductee, 2025 (with Jen Baugher Benton).

2025 Outstanding Extension Educator Award to Dr. Art Agnello (left)

2025 Wallace Heuser Presidential Lecture, "Digital Revolutions: Highlights from Interpoma's Orchards of the Future Symposium" - Dr. Walter Guerra, Laimburg Research Centre

2025 IFTA Award Recipients

Hall of Fame - Robert Black

Outstanding Grower Award - Bobby Brown, Orchard Dale Fruit Farm

Extension Educator Award - Dr. Art Agnello

Researcher Award - Dr. Chris Watkins

Industry Service - Jon Clements

Carlson Lecturer - Dr. Brent Clothier

Wallace Heuser Presidential Lecture - Dr. Walter Guerra

Hall Of Fame

Past Recipients

Tom Auvil
Phil Schwallier
Harold Thome
Dr. Terence Robinson
Dr. Arthur Thompson
Gary Mount
Dr. Robert Carlson
Evan Milburn
Dr. Steven H. Blizzard
Dr. Paul J. Rood Jr.
Wallace E. Heuser

Awards By Year

2024

Hall of Fame – Tom Auvil
Outstanding Grower Award – Dave Gleason
Extension Award – Mauricio Frias
Researcher Award – Dr. Stefano Musacchi
Industry Service – Jeff Cleveringa
Carlson Lecturer – Dr. Luigi Manfrini
Wallace Heuser Presidential Lecture – Dr. Stavros Vougioukas

2023

Outstanding Grower Award – Joe Rasch
Extension Award – Leslie Huffman
Researcher Award – Dr. Jim Luby
Industry Service – Don Armock and Pat Chase
Carlson Lecturer – Dr. Jim Luby
Wallace Heuser Presidential Lecture – Dr. Rich Marini

2022

Outstanding Grower Awards – Ridgetop Orchards and Weaver’s Orchards
Extension Awards – Dr. Jim Schupp and Dr. Kari Peter
Researcher Awards – Dr. Wes Autio and Dr. Tracy Leskey
Industry Service – Wanda Gale-Heuser and Adams County Nursery, Inc.
Carlson Lecturer – Dr. Ian Goodwin
Wallace Heuser Presidential Lecture – Dr. Lailiang Cheng

2020

Hall of Fame – Phil Schwallier
Extension Award – Dr. Bill Shane
Grower Award – Don Rasch Family Farms
Researcher Award – Dr. George Sundin
Industry Service – Jim Schaefer
Carlson Lecturer – Dr. Luis Asin
Wallace Heuser Presidential Lecture Award – Luca Corelli-Grappadelli

2019

Extension Award – Mario R. Miranda Sazo, Cornell University
Grower Award – Paul Wafler, Wafler Farms
Researcher Award – Dr. Alan Lakso, Cornell University
Industry Service – Good Fruit Grower, Meister Media, Fruit Grower News
Carlson Lecturer – George Kantor, Carnegie Mellon University
Wallace Heuser Presidential Lecture Award – Mr. Nick Dokoozlian

2018

Extension Award – Craig Hornblow
Grower Award – Richard Hoddy
Industry Service – Apple and Pear Fruit Breeding Team, New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd.
Carlson Lecturer – Dr. Lee Kalcsits
Wallace Heuser Presidential Lecture Award – Steve Saunders

2017

Extension Award – Tom Auvil
Grower Award – Bruce Allen
Research Award – Dr. Jim Matthias
Carlson Lecturer – Stuart Tustin
Wallace Heuser Presidential Lecture Award – Roland Fumasi

2016

Hall of Fame – Harold Thome
Extension Award – Amy Irish-Brown
Research Award – Dr. Randy Beaudry
Grower Award – Ed Wittenbach
Industry Service – Ken Hall
Carlson Lecturer – Dr. George Sundin
Wallace Heuser Presidential Lecture Award – Dr. Greg Lang

2015

Hall of Fame – Dr. Terence Robinson
Extension Award – William Craig
Research Award – Charles Embree
Grower Award – Eisses Farms and Spurr Brothers Farm
Industry Service – Larry Lutz
Carlson Lecturer – Dr, Steve Blizzard

2014

Extension Award – Bill McPhee
Research Award – Dr. Gerry Neilsen & Dr. Denise Neilsen
Grower Award – Sam DiMaria & David Geen
Industry Service – Perleberg Family
Carlson Lecturer – Dr. Denise Neilsen

2013

Hall of Fame – Dr. Arthur Thompson
Extension Award – Jon Clements and Win Cowgill
Research Award – Dr. Dave Rosenberger
Grower Award – Tougas Family Farm
Industry Service – Elwin Hardy
Carlson Lecturer – Dr. Dave Rosenberger

2012

Hall of Fame – Gary Mount
Extension Award – Dr. Tara Baugher
Researcher Award – Dr. Greg Reighard
Industry Service – Neal Manly
Carlson Lecturer – Dr. Desmond O’Rourke

2011

Extension Award – Karen Lewis
Researcher Award – Dr. Don Elfving
Grower Award – Auvil Fruit – Del Feigal and Brett Drescher
Industry Service – Pete Van Well
Carlson Lecturer – Dr. David Granatstein

2010

Hall of Fame – Dr. Robert Carlson and Evan Milburn
Extension Award – Alison DeMarree
Researcher Award – Dr. Duane Greene
Industry Service – Phil Brown and Phil Schwallier
Carlson Lecturer – Dr. John Palmer

2009

Researcher Award – Jef De Coster
Industry Service – Dr. Hab Eberhard Makosz, Jef De Coster and the Braun Family (Luis, Jutta, Thomas and Jurgen)
Grower/Nursery – Karel Fleuren