Thirty-two
of the nation's top farmers convened last month
in Mobile, Alabama, for the 1999 National Outstanding
Young Farmers (OYF) Award Congress. Carl Tarabbio,
Jr., from Vineland, Cumberland County, represented
New Jersey at the Congress. Tarabbio, President
of Tarabbio Farm, Inc., a third generation grower,
produces lettuce, herbs, vine crops, and cole crops
on the 75-acre family farm. Tarabbio has held offices
in numerous agriculture and non-agriculture organizations
and has been honored on numerous occasions for
his commitment to agriculture. Tarabbio entered
farming because of its proud family tradition and
the opportunities, challenges and rewards it offers.
He uses banded pesticide application methods and
participates in integrated crop management and
integrated pesticide management programs to identify
and reduce insects and plant diseases and allow
beneficial insects to control harmful pests. He
also uses special growing techniques to enter the
early season vegetable market. Included among New
Jersey's OYF alumni James Abma ('91), William Brooks,
Jr. ('81), James Giamarese ('89), Abbott Lee ('85),
and Erwin Sheppard ('79). Brooks, Lee and Giamarese
serve on New Jersey's OYF Advisory Committee. Brooks
is currently president of the State Board of Agriculture,
Sheppard is a former vice-president of the Board
and Lee is currently a Board member representing
New Jersey's fruit industry. The National OYF Awards
Congress is an annual event, sponsored by the U.S.
Junior Chamber of Commerce, which honors the achievements
of a diverse group of enterprising farmers from
across the nation. During the National OYF Congress,
five leaders in America agriculture choose the
top four OYF candidates. The four national winners
for 1999 OYF are from Alabama (grain/beef/swine),
Maryland (dairy/poultry/beef), Minnesota (grain/swine)
and South Dakota (sheep/cattle/grain). The Outstanding
Young Farmer (OYF) program recognizes farmers who
are good stewards of the land, conserving natural
resources through efficient and innovative practices.
The program also encourages better urban-rural
relations and greater interest in the farmer through
appreciation of the farmers' contributions and
achievements. It is the oldest farmer recognition
program in the United States, selecting its first
group of national winners in 1955. Among the notable
former national winners of the OYF award are John
R. Block (IL, '69), former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture,
and Dean R. Kleckner (IA, '67). More than 250 people
representing past state winners, dignitaries and
Jaycees attended the ceremony at Mobile's Adams
Mark Hotel to honor the 32 state OYF winners. Orion
Samuelson, an award-winning farm broadcaster, served
as the master of ceremonies for the 34th consecutive
year. Presiding over the awards ceremony was Chris
Reese, 79th President of the U.S. Junior Chamber
of Commerce. The National OYF program is administered
by the U. S. Junior Chamber of Commerce, sponsored
by Deere & Company and Pioneer Hi-Bred International,
Inc., and supported by the Outstanding Farmers
of America (OFA) Fraternity, comprised of past
state and national OYF winners. There are over
1,600 members of the OFA Fraternity. The U.S. Junior
Chamber of Commerce provides personal and professional
development through civic involvement to men and
women ages 21-39. There are some 150,000 members
in more than 3,000 chapters across the nation.
The attached fact sheet further defines OYF. For
more information on the OYF program or to arrange
an interview with Tarabbio on his farm, call Karen
Kritz, New Jersey's OYF Program Manger, at
(609) 984-2506.
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