Richard Lehnert
Richard Lehnert, associate editor with Good Fruit Grower for the past six years, died suddenly August 31 at his home in Trufant, Michigan. He was 72.
Lehnert received numerous awards during his 52-year career as an agricultural journalist. Earlier this year, he received the Distinguished Service Award from Michigan State University for his outstanding contributions to Michigan’s agricultural and natural resources industry and for his high standards of integrity.
Lehnert grew up on a dairy farm in Sand Lake, Michigan. His mother’s family grew apples on Fruit Ridge.
He attended Michigan State University, starting as a chemistry major. He graduated in 1964 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism with a science writing specialty. He worked as a laboratory assistant in horticulture and an agricultural press release writer for MSU while in college.
Lehnert began his career as a newspaper reporter then joined the staff of Michigan Farmer and was promoted to editor. When the publication was sold in 1991, he launched his own communications agency and for two years worked part time as animal initiative information officer at MSU.
In 2004, he took a position as managing editor of Fruit Growers News in Michigan. Five years later, he joined the Good Fruit Grower as associate editor, covering the Midwest and Eastern United States.
Good Fruit Grower Editor Geraldine Warner said Lehnert had an inquiring mind and was tirelessly committed to providing fruit growers with the latest science-based knowledge to help them advance and prosper.
“Richard had a rare talent for turning complex scientific data into snappy educational articles that growers throughout the world enjoyed,” she said. “He had a deep understanding of and appreciation for the tree fruit industry, and his enthusiasm for his work never waned. This is a huge loss to us all.”
Lehnert received many honors for his writing and photography during his career. He was named Agriculture Writer of the Year by the American Agricultural Editors’ Association in 1975.
He liked to do small-scale farming in his spare time. He had a large garden, small orchard, a few head of sheep and a 1948 Cub tractor.
Lehnert is survived by his wife Elaine, three sons, five grandchildren, five stepchildren and 15 stepgrandchildren.
“Richard was a fine journalist and an exceptional person,” Good Fruit Grower Managing Editor Casey Corr wrote in a note to the magazine staff. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. This is such a loss.”
View a short YouTube video honoring Lehnert:
How sad! His beloved fruit industry has loss a GREAT man of integrity and knowledge.
We offer our prayers to his family whom he always fondly spoke of during our many meetings and trips together. Not only a great information source to the industry but a true gentleman. He will be dearly missed!
What sad news on Dick’s passing. On behalf of CSHS Class 1960 we send our deepest sympathy. We will certainly miss him.
This is a beautiful tribute to a wonderful man. I am honored to have been his friend and will miss him. You left us way to soon Richard. Prayers to my sister in law and family. ?
I went to Cedar Springs high school with Dick. Sorry to hear about his passing. It was always great to see him. He always kidded me about my western hats. He always had a big smile on his face. I was looking forward to seeing him at the reunion. May God bless you and yours. Bill WEEKS
So sorry to hear of Dick’s passing. Dick was a good friend that for some time helped our mutual friend Phil Mead and myself use his garage to restore cars and sell them in his yard when he lived on Dunkel Road in Lansing. Miss seeing and conversing with Dick. What a loss, a great ma. Thinking of his family at this time.
We at the magazine are grateful for the messages we’ve received about Richard’s passing. Thank you!
It was a complete surprise to hear of Dick’s passing. I experienced and greatly appreciated his constant desire to report new technologies developed for the agricultural and horticultural faculty at Michigan State University. One of his last, even historic, reports was his personal summary of following soil water retention technologies that conserve water and promote plant growth, for the past 46 years, which he titled,” Percolation barriers could enhance water retention: Subsurface water retention technology could revolutionize irrigated agriculture, published in the Good Fruit Grower. pp. 38-42. April 2, 2015. https://goodfruit.com/percolation-barriers-could-enhance-water-retention/
We will truly miss and continue to anticipate the zealous reporting that Dick brought to the public.
My prayers are offered to his family members, as they continue to remember and celebrate Dick’s life and loyal citizenship in this world and now with God.
Alvin Smucker, Professor, Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences at MSU
I was very surprised and saddened to learn of Dick Lehnert’s unexpected death. I will very much miss seeing him at all of the fruit grower meetings where our paths often crossed over the past decade. I fully agree with Geraldine Warner’s comment that “Richard had a rare talent for turning complex scientific data into snappy educational articles ….” I was particularly impressed with his ability to attend a meeting, listen to oral presentations, read the abstracts, and then compile summary articles that were completely accurate and far more interesting articles that the presenting scientists (including me) could have written. The fruit industry has lost a great journalist and communicator.
I’m deeply saddened to learn of Dick Lehnert’s passing. It was always a pleasure to talk with him at meetings and we have lost a great writer and friend. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues.
I am shocked and saddened by this unexpected news. He had a gift to make technical information an “easy reed” understandable to everyone. What a great loss for the industry and people, like myself, that considered him to be a friend. My deepest sympathy to his family.
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