Food Producers of Idaho, representing more than 40 agriculture and commodity organizations in Idaho and the Pacific Northwest, joined with the Twin Falls County Fair in recognizing six Magic Valley farm/ranch families.
The program was started in 2015 by Food Producers of Idaho, according to Executive Director Rick Waitley. Each year the organization circulates information regarding the nomination. Farm Family selection is based on a number of criteria: farm stewardship of natural resources, economic impact on the local community, innovative farming techniques, involvement in their local community and then support of why the family deserves to be recognized as a Featured Farm Family.
The six farms receiving the award at Twin Falls County Fair included:
BUHL Don and Dianne Gaalswyk - White Harvest Farms
CASTLEFORD Michael and Vicki Guerry - Guerry, Inc.
CASTLEFORD Rylee and Madison Reynolds – Reynolds Farm
FILER Travis and Jill Mai – 5 Mai Farms
FILER Jeff and Shawna Volle – Volle Farms
HAZELTON Brian and Andrea Huettig – Huettig Farms
Each family was presented passes to attend the fair by the Twin Falls County Fair Board. Once they were at the fair, an engraved plaque was presented by Fair Manager, John Pitz. A total of 38 farm and ranch families have been recognized since the program began.
Waitley stated, “Recognition is not something farmers and ranchers seek. They just go about their day, year after year, growing crops, caring for livestock and safeguarding the environment. But others recognize their investment, their management and their involvement in the community and it is always an honor to pay tribute to the great farmers in Idaho.”