Hope Gruzlovic
(609)292-8896
hope.gruzlovic@ag.state.nj.us

The New Jersey Junior of Chamber of Commerce recently honored seven New Jersey residents with their Outstanding Young Citizens (TOYC) Award, two of whom were recipients of the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture's Outstanding Young Farmer Award in 2000 and 2001. The recognition came at the Jaycees annual TOYC banquet, continuing their tradition of recognizing the personal, professional and civic achievements of special individuals of the Garden State. The two agriculture industry honorees were Ronald E. Binaghi, Jr., a fifth generation vegetable and greenhouse operator from Old Tappan, Bergen County, and was Robert C. Von Thun, Jr., a fourth generation vegetable/small fruit/flower grower from Monmouth Junction, Middlesex County. Binaghi and his wife Jeanine, who shares in all aspects of the farm work and community activities, reminded the TOYC audience that happiness is not based on possessions, power or prestige, but on relationships with those you love and respect and the service we provide to God and others. He told the Jaycees about his involvement in the Bergen County Agricultural Development Committee and expressed his pride at being part of Bergen County's recent acquisition under the Farmland Preservation Program. Binaghi received the Outstanding Young Farmer Award in 2000. Von Thun, New Jersey's 2001 Outstanding Young Farmer for 2001, was recognized earlier this year by the United State Junior Chamber of Commerce as one of the year's National Outstanding Young Farmers. Von Thun and his wife Cindy value strong community service efforts including education and public outreach. They follow closely the FFA motto: "learning to do, doing to learn, earning to live, living to serve." Von Thun shared the Jaycees honor with Cindy, stressing they are a "team" in all aspects of the family; farm operation and community outreach. NJ Jaycees' 56th President Joseph Sabina and TOYC Chairperson Alisa Hodowanec presented the Jaycees' TOYC Gold Medallion and TOYC award to Binaghi and Von Thun. In a letter to the honorees, Syndey Ward, 81st President of the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce, wrote, "Service to humanity is one of the most basic Jaycee beliefs and you are the guiding lights for young people across the state of New Jersey." Karen Kritz, NJDA's Outstanding Young Farmer program manager, noted, "For youth who want to enter the field of production agriculture or natural resource management, Binaghi and Von Thun set an ideal example of how a farm family can run a successful agricultural operation and give so much back to the community." For more information about the program, contact Kritz at 609-984-2506 or e-mail karen.kritz@ag.state.nj.us.