The New Hampshire Farm Bureau recently announced the winners of several awards geared toward young farmers.
- Achievement Award – Si & Megan Robertson
The Achievement Award recognizes Young Farmer members who have excelled on their farm and have honed their leadership abilities to superiority. Participants are involved in production agriculture with a majority of their income subject to normal production risks. Judges evaluate competitors’ excellence in management, growth and scope of their enterprise and self-initiative that have been displayed throughout the farm.
Si and Megan Robertson are part of the fifth generation to own and operate Bohanan Farm. Si works full-time on the farm; Megan is a veterinarian at a mixed animal practice and does vet work and more for the farm. They met at the University of New Hampshire and have now been married for five years.
Bohanan Farm is a dairy farm on the Contoocook River that processes and markets all the milk produced on farm directly to local customers under their brand, Contoocook Creamery. In addition to the 120 dairy cows, the farm also has a small herd of beef cross cattle, a growing vegetable business and they produce all the forages and corn meal to feed the herd. Si and Megan are both part of the YF program and Si recently joined the Merrimack Co. Farm Bureau Board.
- Excellence in Agriculture Award – Townsend Carmody
The Excellence in Ag Award spotlights YF members who are agricultural enthusiasts who do not earn a majority of their income from their own production agriculture enterprise. Competitors are evaluated on their understanding of ag issues, leadership experiences, achievements and their ability to communicate their agricultural story.
Townsend was born and raised in Belmont, NH. She grew up riding horses, gardening and canning with her parents, but needed more! She graduated from BHS in 2012 and went on to UNH Thompson School where she studied integrated agricultural management. She has worked on several farms in her area, help run a 4-H group and most recently served as the vice chair for NHFB Young Farmers.
She owned a small heard of Belted Galloway cattle with HT Farm out of Belmont that was recently sold and has had her fair share of chicken flocks and veggie gardens as well.
- Discussion Meet – Patrick Marcoux
The Discussion Meet competitive event simulates a committee meeting where discussion and active participation are expected from each participant. This competition is evaluated on an exchange of ideas and information on a pre-determined topic. Participants build basic discussion skills, develop a keen understanding of important agricultural ideas and explore how groups can pool knowledge to reach consensus and solve problems.
Patrick is an active member of NHFB Young Farmers, serving as a board member and as the YF policy chair. He lives on his family farm where they raise beef, pork, poultry and make maple syrup. Over the summer, Patrick was instrumental in leading a NH YF team to D.C. to discuss with the state’s senators and representatives New England priorities for the Farm Bill.
- Animal Husbandry – Brandon Wolinski
The NH Animal Husbandry Award has been developed by the NH YF program to promote sound animal husbandry and to recognize individuals who have implemented exceptional livestock welfare practices on their farm. Individuals are nominated by fellow YF members. A panel of three judges travel to the nominee’s farm and evaluate their operation for animal care, biosecurity, nutrition, environmental stewardship and so on.
Brandon has been farming for himself for seven years now. He grew up on his father’s dairy farm where he milked 75 Holsteins. Because of that, he originally started out showing red and white Holsteins and Jerseys. He transitioned over to beef cattle and started a herd of Belted Galloways. Now, Brandon grows his cattle for grass-fed beef and has begun focusing on genetics in his herd. He also raises goats that he breeds and sells.
When he’s not working on the farm, his full-time job is in plumbing and HVAC. Each year he works to find new and creative ways to grow a healthy herd with a good nutrition plan and exceptional management.
NHFB and the Young Farmers would like to wish Patrick, Si and Megan good luck in their respective competitions at AFBF Annual Convention.
Leave A Comment