It is with great sorrow that we at the National Association of Wheat Growers report the passing of our friend and former director of government affairs for environmental policy, Mark Gaede. He died Christmas Eve at his home near Washington, D.C. Mark was a fixture in the DC ag community for many years, working on Capitol Hill for several Members of Congress, at USDA during the Clinton Administration and at NAWG for more than a decade. His focus while with the Association was on legislative and regulatory actions related to crop protection, conservation and renewable fuels issues. Gaede, 60, was born in the Midwest and grew up in Oregon, attending Oregon State University and the Northwest School of Law at Lewis and Clark College.

He is survived by his wife, Kitty, and sister, Kim Merritt, as well as many close friends and colleagues. Services are pending. NAWG’s grower-leaders and staff offer deep condolences to Mark’s loved ones. We appreciate his outstanding service to America’s wheat industry.

Funeral services for Mark will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014 at the Everly-Wheatley Funeral Home Chapel, 1500 West Braddock Rd., Alexandria, Va.  22302. Visitation and viewing will be held from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.