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AHPA honors Edward Fletcher with inaugural Michael McGuffin Extraordinary Service Award
September 23, 2025
The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) is pleased to announce Edward Fletcher of Native Botanicals, Inc., as the recipient of the inaugural Michael McGuffin Extraordinary Service Award. The special award was presented to Ed by AHPA President & CEO Graham Rigby last week at the 2025 AHPA Botanical Congress in Cincinnati.
At the recommendation of AHPA's Communications Committee, the AHPA Board of Trustees recently established this new award in honor of the late, longtime AHPA President Michael McGuffin. The award is intended to recognize individuals or organizations that embody Michael's spirit of “extraordinary service” to the herbal products community.
While “extraordinary service” can be difficult to define — given Michael's boundless dedication to future generations, to small businesses, and to the plants themselves — it is unmistakable when seen. Following the devastation of Hurricane Helene last year, the herbal community saw exactly that in Ed. From distributing supplies and aiding recovery efforts — chainsaw in hand — to having Native Botanicals donate all profits to disaster relief in the directly impacted Appalachian community, Ed's generosity and tireless service provided essential support when it was needed most.
His efforts, combined with a lifetime of commitment to plants and the botanical industry, deeply moved the herbal community — and Michael himself. Before his passing, Michael was brought to tears recounting Ed's contributions and expressed his hope for Ed to be recognized for his heroic actions.
“It's been a long journey through many things with Michael and, now, without him,” Ed reminisced fondly as he accepted the award established as a tribute to his longtime friend and fellow herbal champion. “It's an honor to receive this award.”
“At the AHPA Annual Member Meeting at Expo West, I once said, ‘It's nice to look out and see you, friends and colleagues' — and I put it in that order on purpose. To me, you are not only my colleagues but also my friends,” Ed continued. “That's how I see this industry: the plants bring us together, but it's the people that keep us together.”
With the unanimous support of AHPA's Communications Committee and Board of Trustees — including Michael's life partner, Staci Eisner — this award carries special meaning as a tribute to both Michael's legacy and Ed's example of service. AHPA is honored to recognize Edward Fletcher as the first recipient of the Michael McGuffin Extraordinary Service Award and to celebrate the spirit of generosity and community that will guide this honor for years to come.
