North Dakota State Plant Pathologist Dr. Neil Gudmestad was honored at the World Potato Congress in Beijing, China last week with the Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is a tribute to those that have made substantial career contributions to the potato industry. A week earlier, Gudmestad was named a fellow of the American Phytopathological Society. The society grants this honor to a current APS member in recognition of distinguished contributions to plant pathology or to The American Phytopathological Society in one or more of the following areas: original research, teaching, administration, professional and public service, and/or extension and outreach. Fellow NDSU Plant Pathologist Dr.Gary Secor joined Gudmestad in receiving another honor on July 23rd. Both men were given honorary lifetime memberships in the Potato Association of America (PAA) at the group’s annual meeting in Portland, Maine. (Source: Potato Bytes; News from Northern Plains Potato Growers Association)