Congratulations Sidney! Plus other ACFGA meeting highlights…

Several Mid Atlantic Young Growers Alliance members, including four jet-lagged New Zealand travelers, attended the Adams County Fruit Growers Association Banquet at the Holiday Inn in Gettysburg Saturday, February 23rd. YGA members and the rest of the local fruit industry alike were proud and excited to see our own chairwoman Sidney Kuhn presented the 2008 ACFGA Fruit Grower of the Year award!

It served as a testament to the Sidney's work in encouraging others in her generation to become active in the fruit industry that the YGA's presence was felt in nearly every facet of the meeting. The meeting itself was organized and conducted by ACFGA President and Past President Matt Showers and Eric Haller, respectively. Both Matt and Eric represent the upcoming generation of their family farms. YGA member Ben Wenk (guitar) and his friend David "The Total Package" Cutshall (saxophone) entertained the crowd as they chatted and dined.

After the acknowledgment of guests, Pennsylvania Apple Queen, YGA member, and international ambassador for the industry Hannah Lott approached the podium to deliver her report. She began by expressing the important role the YGA played during her time as Apple Queen. Speaking specifically of her trip to New Zealand, she showed the crowd a green stone pendant that she was wearing, carved in the Maori Koru (unfurling fern frawn) shape – explaining that it signifies a new directive and that she believes the experience gained on that trip will provide a new directive for our fruit industry. (Click here to learn a wee bit more about Maori Culture: http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/culture/culture-maori-culture.cfm) She went on to highlight some other functions she attended and some favorite moments at other festivals but not before thanking those who helped her enjoy these wonderful experiences; the ACFGA, the YGA, the rest of the folks on our trip, and the generosity of Bear Mountain Orchards (which got a good chuckle out of everyone).

Not long after Hannah's very thoughtful and well-spoken update, another of our Young Grower women was the recipient of some well-deserved recognition. Sidney Kuhn, who helped found and continues to help operate our Young Grower's Alliance, was recognized as Grower of the Year. In addition to the numerous hours she's spent with SHAP organizing the YGA, our trips, and encouraging her peers to pursue agriculture, she has overseen the Scholarship Committee of SHAP and the Scott Brown Memorial Scholarship. Her contributions were also felt through her outstanding work at the Land Conservancy of Adams County where her efforts directly influenced the conservation of over 1,000 acres of farmland and forest lands in Adams County. It was a proud moment not only for Sid and her family but for all of us with a connection to the Young Growers Alliance when Sid reached the podium to a standing ovation! Thank you, Sid, for everything you've done for our budding group of Young Growers, our local ag community, and fruit growers across the state!

Ben Wenk