2011 New Jersey Outstanding Young Farmer Announced

Fruit and vegetable grower John Melick of Oldwick, NJ, has been named the 2011 Outstanding Young Farmer by the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture.

Melick, 39, will be presented with his award at the 2011 New Jersey Agricultural Convention on Feb. 8 at the Crowne Plaza in Cherry Hill. In addition, Melick was named one of the 25 semi-finalists for the Naitonal Outstanding Young Farmer Award. Four of those will be selected as winners at the National Outstanding Young Farmer Awards Congress in Louisville, KY, Feb. 17-20.

“John Melick is a 10th generation farmer who operates a successful multi-faceted farming operation on the same land as his ancestors,” New Jersey secretary of agriculture Douglas H. Fisher said. “John and his family set the example for the future of the state’s agricultural industry by not only being leaders in their profession but in the community.”

Melick’s Town Farm is owned by George and Norma Melick and their children John, Peter, and Rebecca. They have the largest fruit farm in Central and Northern New Jersey, with more than 10,000 apple trees and 5,000 peach trees. The farm consists of pick-your-own, a cider mill, and a market.

Melick received a B.S. in civil engineering from Bucknell University and is a graduate of the New Jersey Agricultural Leadership Development Program. He is a leader in his community, serving as president in the Oldwick Fire Company, as well as the Hunterdon County Board of Agriculture and the New Jersey Council of Farmers and Communities.

New Jersey annually recognizes the outstanding achievements of a young grower, who is an upstanding leader, respected agriculturalist, and is active in community or fait organizations. The Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for the Year 2012 Outstanding Young Farmer Award. The submission deadline for nominations is Jan. 15, 2011.

Nominees must be farm operators, deriving a minimum of two-thirds of their income from farming and must be between the ages of 21 and 40, but not becoming 41 prior to Jan. 1 of the year for which they are applying. Candidates who have a financial interest in the farm operation (a sole proprietor, partners, or a corporation) will receive higher ranking in the judging process. However, nominees also may include salaried farm managers and employees who are actively involved in policy and management decisions.

A panel of three judges reviews each nominee’s application based on the following criteria: progress in their agriculture career, soil and water conservation practices, and contribution to his/her community, state, and nation.

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