Norz Named N.J. Outstanding Young Farmer
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 10/09/2009 - 11:41am.
TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher has announced that Rich Norz, owner of Norz-Hill Farm in Hillsborough, N.J., has been named 2010 Outstanding Young Farmer by the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture.
Norz, 40, will be presented with his award at the 2010 New Jersey Agricultural Convention early next year. He also will compete for one of the top four National Outstanding Young Farmer (OYF) Awards.
“Rich Norz is an energetic, innovative farmer, who is helping to shape the future for agriculture in New Jersey through his hard work and community involvement,” Fisher said. “For New Jersey agriculture to continue to thrive, we need farm families, like the Norzes, to stay in farming through the generations and we need to encourage new farmers to join the industry. The Outstanding Young Farmer Award helps to recognize those young people for the vital role they play in sustaining New Jersey agriculture.”
Norz is a fourth-generation farmer who owns the family farm in partnership with his father, Richard Norz Sr. The Norz family started farming in Hillsborough in 1920. The farm consists of 1,500 acres, with about 80 acres of that in the Farmland Preservation Program. They grow a variety of crops, operate a produce stand and conduct many fall agritourism activities, including a corn maze, school tours and pick-your-own pumpkins. The Norz family had previously been in the dairy business.
Rich Norz is a leader in his industry and community. He serves as the president of the Somerset County Board of Agriculture and Somerset County 4-H Association. He is a member of the Somerset County Agriculture Development Board and the Hillsborough Wildlife Commission and has served as president and various officers of the New Jersey Holstein Association; New Jersey Junior Holstein Association; Central Jersey Holstein Association; and New Jersey 4-H Dairy Advisory Council.
Rich consistently used the most modern genetic tools available to advance his cow breeding operation and worked with federal authorities on using water and soil conservation practices on the farm.
New Jersey annually recognizes the outstanding achievements of a young farmer, who is an upstanding leader, respected agriculturalist and is active in community or faith organizations. The Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for the Year 2011 Outstanding Young Farmer Award.
The submission deadline for nominations is Jan. 15.
