James Abma Jr., a Wyckoff vegetable producer, has been chosen as New Jersey’s 2019 Outstanding Young Farmer by the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture. Abma and his wife Anna, were one of 10 finalists for the National Outstanding Young Farmer Award.

Abma has been involved in agriculture since he started helping on the farm at age 8. By age 18, he was overseeing the farm’s vegetable production after having spent several summers working in the fields.

 Jimmy Abma knows that his family paved the path for his agricultural career as his dad James won the New Jersey Outstanding Young Farmer Award in 1991.

Abma’s Farm works a total of 150 acres, selling produce retail at their on-site farm market, and wholesale through a local supermarket chain. The primary crops grown by the Abma’s include sweet corn, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and cucumbers. The farm also includes a greenhouse that is open from mid-March up until Christmas that features homegrown annuals, perennials, herbs, soil, and pottery. The farm has educational tours throughout the school year and camps for school-aged children during the summer, winter, and spring breaks. Their newly renovated “Barnyard” Petting Zoo allows the community to interact with and learn about livestock including goats, sheep, alpaca, rabbits, ponies, donkeys, and more.

The support of Anna is vital to the family business. Her daily work includes doing payroll, bills, account balancing, decorating the farm for the seasons, leading the farm’s CSA program and overseeing the petting zoo. Anna and Jimmy also have three young children between the ages of 1 and 4.

Jimmy and Anna Abma also serve in the community. Jimmy has been on the Bergen County Board of Agriculture for the last five years, a member of the Wyckoff Volunteer Fire Department for 12 years and has provided live nativity and on-farm fall festival hayrides to two local churches for the last several years. Anna has been on the Wyckoff Volunteer Ambulance Corps for 10 years.