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Photo of 2009 NJ Ag Fair Ambassador - Click to enlarge
For Immediate Release: November 6, 2008
Contact: Lynne Richmond
(609) 633-2954

(TRENTON) – Nalyn Hetzell, a 19-year-old student at Camden County College, was crowned the 2009 New Jersey Agricultural Fair Ambassador by the Agricultural Fair Association of New Jersey at their fall dinner meeting on November 2 in Freehold.

As ambassador, Hetzell, a resident of Pittsgrove Township, Salem County, is charged with visiting the state’s agricultural fairs in 2009, discussing the fairs and promoting agritourism to the public, and bringing people together to support our state’s agriculture industry. 

“Having grown up in a farming family, with my father coming from a dairy farm and my mother being from a hay and livestock operation, grandparents involved in nursery production, salt hay farming and oyster farming, we have been involved in agriculture all my life and it is very near and dear to my heart,” Hetzell wrote in her contest essay.  “I feel that as farmers, we have a responsibility to educate the public on the impact agriculture makes on the economy, our quality of life as a country and the importance of agriculture in preserving our environment.”

Hetzell was New Jersey Pinto Horse Equestrian of the Year, 2006 Cumberland County 4-H Member of the Year, 2006 4-H Horse Judging Champion and 2005 Cumberland County 4-H Equestrian of the Year and has received many other awards for her activities in 4-H and the equine community.

The 19-year-old is in her second year at Camden County College, studying nursing.  She has been a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician for the Elmer Ambulance Corps for the past two years.  She raises sheep, horses, and hogs and helps in the family hay, grain and vegetable operation.

This is the sixth year the Agricultural Fair Association of New Jersey has crowned an ambassador.  In choosing an ambassador, the Association seeks a good representation of young people active in agriculture in the Garden State and their county fair.  Seven people competed for the position this year.

Selected First Runner-up in the competition was Victoria Anema of Changewater, Second Runner-up was Samantha Schurick of Hillsborough and Third Runner-up was Ella Barry of Dennisville.

There were 20 agricultural fairs in the state this past summer, including the New Jersey State Fair at the Sussex County Fairgrounds.  The earliest fair is held at the end of May, with the final fair of the season in late August.

For more information on New Jersey’s agricultural fairs, visit www.njagfairs.com.