At Once, Hello to Fruit Growers and Farewell to a ‘Super Guy’
April 7, 2020 This column, my first since joining American Fruit Grower and Western Fruit Grower on Feb. 10, isn’t intended to be a tribute to Dick Meister, Meister Media’s Chairman Emeritus, who passed away Jan. 28 at the age of 100.
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But, in introducing myself to the fruit growers of America, I’d be remiss if I didn’t relay a quick interaction from my first week on the job, which happened to coincide with my coverage of the annual meeting of the International Fruit Tree Association. (I’d cite this assignment as a textbook case of trial by fire, except I’m still thawing out from the trip to Grand Rapids, MI. Speaking of, check out the slideshow above to see some of my favorite images I snapped during the 2020 IFTA Conference.)
During my first informal sit-down with a group of growers ― lunch at the Big Hart Brewery ― a gentleman from Fillmore, IN, was nice enough to introduce himself. The very next thing Jerry Chandler did was ask me about Dick Meister.
Interesting you should ask, Jerry.
I relayed the unfortunate news. Chandler then gave me his best Dick Meister story. Back in 1964, when Chandler was a freshman at Purdue University, he and a group of students spent a night at the Meister home in suburban Cleveland. What he’ll never forget is that the house was built from an old dairy barn. What he also remembers is how “gracious” the hosts were to their guests. Dick Meister, he said, was a “super guy.”
So here we are 56 years later ― I know this all too well, considering I was born in 1964 ― and I’m thinking I have a pretty lofty reputation to uphold as Senior Editor. It was already humbling enough to know that American Fruit Grower, established in 1880, is the flagship magazine of Meister Media. But to hear Chandler’s story about Dick Meister, not to mention the fact that it was the first thing he brought up upon learning I had come aboard, takes my responsibilities to another level.
So I look forward to working with you and, in a perfect world, hearing many more fascinating grower stories like the ones I heard inside the Big Hart Brewery, Hart Pizza, and Amway Grand Plaza Hotel.
As for my elevator pitch, my first byline occurred in 1985 at Bowling Green State University. A lifelong Greater Clevelander, I spent nine years covering sports and business for a small newspaper in Medina, OH. Tired of working nights and weekends, I switched to trade press in 1998.
The agricultural industry is not new to me (although, out of principle, I will typically ask you to explain something to me like I’m a 6-year-old). Two of my four prior business publications revolved around golf course agronomy and row crop retailers. I’ve also covered the roofing industry. and it all began 22 years ago with Dermatology Times.
I take great pride in each of those publications, particularly from an editorial standpoint. Unfortunately, most of them weren’t supported by a company as dedicated to editorial as Meister Media, another reason this transition is so promising.
While I may not have known Dick as well as Jerry Chandler, and presumably so many other fruit growers across the country did, I am extremely gracious today to be representing his legacy magazine.
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