Farm Family of the Year Award

Nominations for the 2007 Alaska State Fair Farm Family of the Year Due June 29, 2007

Alaska agriculture is a vital, 32 million dollar industry, composed of a wide range of businesses including farms, ranches, nurseries, and gardens. The Alaska State Fair and the agricultural community want to applaud the efforts of these farmers by honoring one family that epitomizes the spirit of Alaska farming.

We need the public’s help in nominating friends and neighbors for the 8th Annual Farm Family of the Year award. The Alaska State Fair established the award in 2000 to honor an Alaska farming family and show appreciation for all the hardworking Alaskans committed to agriculture and aquaculture in the state.

The 2006 recipients were Rex & Bryce Wrigley and their families. Wrigley Farms was formed in 1983 when Rex & Bryce moved their families to Delta Junction from Idaho. Wrigley farms has successfully produced a wide variety of agriculture products ranging from broccoli to barley; they are very active in their agriculture community and church.

The selection committee is comprised of members from the Farm Services Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the University of Alaska Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, the state Division of Agriculture, and the Cooperative Extension Service.

The Farm Family selection committee will accept nominations and select a family using the following criteria:
1. Production of quality Alaska Grown products (not based on quantity);
2. Community involvement (civic organizations, school, sports, church);
3. Involvement in agricultural industry organizations (local, state and federal, etc.) and,
4. Overall farm family image, farming history, and unique or special production.

The award, sponsored by the Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union, will be presented at the Fair on opening day, August 23, 2007. Nominations should offer details about the family and how the family members fulfill the criteria. The nomination should be mailed to:

Farm Family
Alaska Division of Agriculture
1800 Glenn Hwy, Ste. 12
Palmer, AK 99645

or faxed to: (907) 745-7254. or emailed to: Amy_Pettit@dnr.state.ak.us

The deadline for nominations is June 29, 2007.