Join us in congratulating Jess Nieder on being named a 2016 National Outstanding Young Farmer!
“The big news is that this past weekend we won the title 2016 National Outstanding Young Farmer. This is awarded to four farmers between the ages of 18 and 40 each year, with a candidate pool from across the country. I fell very honored of course, and I was also very shocked! The other candidates were from BIG farms. One farmed close to 6,000 acres of grain, another had a 350 head herd of dairy cows, another did 200 acres of vegetables. At 19 total acres, and 9 acres in vegetables, I was the farmer of the smallest farm they have ever selected. In 60 years with 240 winners, they had not typically selected organic farmers (only one before this year), women (only five ever), or especially single women (I was the first one of those anomalies). I do not believe that is because the organization (Outstanding Farmers of America) is backwards, but because agriculture is an industry that could use a few “accidents” happening to the glass ceilings. Here’s to happy accidents!”
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