New Jersey vegetable producer James Abma Jr., Wyckoff, is New Jersey’s 2019 Outstanding Young Farmer.
Abma was named for the honor by the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture, according to a news release.
Abma and his wife Anna, are one of 10 finalists for the National Outstanding Young Farmer Award, according to the release. He will be recognized for the New Jersey honor at the 2019 New Jersey State Agricultural Convention in Atlantic City on Feb. 6.
“The Abmas have long been known for their hard work and positive influence on agriculture in New Jersey,” New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas Fisher said in a news release. “In following in his father’s footsteps, Jimmy has continued to enhance the agricultural experience at Abma’s Farm and has it well positioned to succeed long into the future. I congratulate Jimmy as he is well-deserving of this honor.”
Working on his family farm since the age of 8, Abma was overseeing the farm’s vegetable production by the age of 18, according to the release.
“When I was younger, I was looking at my dad’s desk and saw his plaque for winning the Outstanding Young Farmer Award and I always thought it would be neat if I could have a chance to win it someday,” Jimmy Abma said in the release. “I’ve always had a passion for farming. Working with produce was my starting point and it always took precedence. My goal is to bring more vegetable variety into our market and give our customers a high quality, fresh product from the fields to the market.”
Farming about 150 acres, Abma’s Farm sells produce retail at their on-site farm market, and wholesale through a local supermarket chain.
The Outstanding Young Farmer program is the oldest farmer recognition program in the U.S., according to the release. The release said the National Outstanding Young Farmer Award will be presented in February at the National Outstanding Young Farmers Awards Congress in Bettendorf, Iowa.
