Horizon Organic announced the family farmer recipients of two annual awards: the HOPE Award, which honors farmers who advocate organic agriculture; and the Quality Award, which recognizes the Horizon farmer who produces the highest quality organic milk in the entire Horizon milk supply. The Hardy family of Farmington, Maine, received the 2011 Horizon Organic Producer Education (HOPE) Award, while the Sheen family of Gouverneur, New York, was recognized with the 2011 National Quality Award, during Farm Aid’s annual benefit concert at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas.
HOPE Award: Henry and Teresa Hardy
Henry and Teresa Hardy involve their entire family – two daughters, a son and daughter-in-law – in running their 165-acre farm, which was started by Henry Hardy’s father in the late 1940s. They transitioned from conventional to organic farming in 2003, with the help of a neighboring farmer who guided them through the process. Today, the Hardys have returned the favor by helping at least a dozen farmers transition to organic in Maine, which ranks 12th in the nation for the number of certified organic farms, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The Hardys also host farm tours for students, are involved with local and statewide organic dairy, farm and conservation-related organizations, and attend fairs statewide where the family shows their registered Ayrshire cows.
“It’s a privilege to help others transition and experience the benefits of organic dairy farming,” said Teresa Hardy. “The work we do to promote organic is part of our daily lives. It’s just us; it’s the way we are. We’re excited and honored to receive the HOPE Award for doing what we believe in and enjoy.”
National Quality Award: Jeffrey and Sharon Sheen
The National Quality Award recognizes farmers who deliver the highest quality milk of Horizon’s more than 600 farmer partners in 23 states.
In winning the 2011 National Quality Award, the Sheen’s dairy consistently delivered the highest quality organic milk of all Horizon family farms. The Sheens, who have 40 Holsteins on their 343-acre farm, have shipped to Horizon for the past seven years.
While Sharon Sheen grew up on a dairy farm, neither she nor Jeffrey milked a cow until they started their own farm about 14 years ago. “We learned by trial and error, and I asked a lot of questions!” Jeffrey Sheen said.
He attributes winning the Quality Award to his family’s constant attention to the herd and organic standards. “We’ve found that the simpler we keep things, the better,” said Sheen. “We keep an eye on everything.”
The top 10 percent of Horizon farms in each state also earned quality awards. For consideration, producers must ship organic milk to the company for one full calendar year, and the average test results for each shipment must be among the best in their respective states. PD
—From Horizon Organic news release
