ALEXANDRIA, Minn. — At its recent Summer Summit, the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association presented its highest and most prestigious individual honor – the Ranelius Award.
This year’s recipient is turkey grower and Minnesota state Rep. John Burkel.
“Each year, the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association presents the Ranelius Award to an individual whose leadership, service, and commitment have left a lasting impact on Minnesota’s turkey industry,” Ashley Kohls, MTGA executive director, said during the awards ceremony. “It is our highest honor, recognizing not only professional accomplishment, but also stewardship, advocacy, and dedication to the people and future of our industry.”
“The Ranelius Award recognizes an individual whose lifetime of stewardship, advocacy, and exceptional service has left a permanent and transformative mark on Minnesota’s turkey industry,” MTGA said in its announcement. “This year’s recipient, Representative John Burkel, perfectly embodies these characteristics, carrying forward a rich family legacy that extends across four generations in northwest Minnesota.”
Burkel, a turkey grower from Badger, Minn., has more than 36 years of experience in agriculture, which includes several segments of the turkey industry, such as raising light and heavy turkey hens, and heavy toms.
Among his many turkey industry involvements, he has served on the MTGA Board of Directors and is a former vice chair of the National Turkey Federation. President Barack Obama “pardoned” Burkel’s turkey “Popcorn” during the 2013 National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation at the White House. He also testified to the Minnesota legislature during the 2015 highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak about how the virus affects turkey farmers.
Burkel, a republican state representative serving District 1A in northwest Minnesota, was elected in 2020.
“He has worked to ensure agriculture has a seat at the table,” Kohls noted. “He has advocated for policies that strengthen biosecurity, support growers, and recognize the realities of modern livestock production. Most notably, he authored the House version of legislation that established Minnesota’s livestock protection grant program, better known as the ‘Turkey Laser Bill,’ providing growers with additional tools to help reduce the risk of avian influenza.”
“He understands the challenges of farming because he lives them every day,” Kohls added. “He understands the importance of advocacy because he has served on both sides of the conversation. And he understands that the future of agriculture depends on growers being willing to step up, get involved, and make their voices heard.”
