Grainnet

Carrington, ND--Dakota Growers Pasta Company announced June 21 that Chairman Jack Dalrymple received the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2007 Award in the Master category in the Minnesota and Dakotas region.

According to Ernst and Young, the award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic, growing businesses.

Dalrymple was selected by an independent panel of judges and the award was presented at an Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year gala event at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis, MN on June 19.

At age 22, Dalrymple took over the family farm and overcame many hardships to expand his operation in eastern North Dakota.

Facing falling commodity prices and open trade, he began looking for new ways to add value to his durum wheat.

As organizing board chairman of Dakota Growers Pasta Company, he helped lead over 1,000 farm families build a $40 million state-of-the-art integrated durum mill and pasta processing plant, which has since become the third-largest pasta manufacturer in North America.

"When you get over 1,000 farmers and several hundred hard-working employees all pulling in the same direction, you will be surprised at what can be achieved," Dalrymple said.

"The real credit goes to the dedicated management team and the great employees of Dakota Growers Pasta Company. They really take a lot of pride in our business."

Along with leading Dakota Growers Pasta Company, Dalrymple served 16 years in the North Dakota House of Representatives and currently serves as Lieutenant Governor of the state.

See Related Websites/Articles:

• Dakota Growers Pasta Company

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