PA farm bureau honors outstanding members

By Blake Jackson

The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB) held its 73rd annual meeting last week, honoring outstanding members and setting priorities for the year ahead. Rick Ebert, a Westmoreland County dairy farmer, was the recipient of the PFB's highest honor, the Barnraiser Award. Ebert was recognized for his many years of service advocating for Pennsylvania agriculture at the county, state, and national levels.

Cliff Wallace, president of the Beaver-Lawrence Farm Bureau, received the 2023 Distinguished Local Affairs Leader Award for his work following a train derailment and chemical spill in East Palestine, Ohio. Wallace collected information on the impact of the spill on local farms and pushed for government action to ensure the safety of local farmland.

Ernie Mattiuz, a longtime Elk County Farm Bureau member, received the 2023 Distinguished Service to Agriculture award. Mattiuz has been involved with the PFB for more than 35 years and has served on the state's board of directors for eight years. He was also instrumental in getting grant funding for the Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation's Mobile Education Ag Lab and in getting a tax exemption for loggers passed into law.

Ryan and Andrea Brown, of Cumberland County, received the 2023 Young Ag Professionals Achievement Award. They will represent the state at the national Young Farmers and Ranchers competition in January. The couple bought Ryan's grandfather's farm in 2014 where they raise beef cattle and show goats, as well as farming corn, soybeans, wheat, and hay.

Darla Romberger, of Cumberland County, won the 2023 Young Ag Professionals Discussion Meet. She will also represent the state at the national conference in January. The Columbia County Farm Bureau won the Premier County Award. Bonnie LaTourette, of Wayne County, received the 2023 Outstanding Woman in Agriculture Award.

The Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation honored two educators with Teacher of the Year Awards. Blythe Heisey, a teacher at South Lebanon Elementary School, was named Teacher of the Year. Jenna McIntire, a teacher at Big Spring Middle School, was named runner-up.

PFB President Chris Hoffman outlined the organization's priorities for the year ahead, which include pushing for whole milk in schools, reforming the state's over-order premium for milk, advocating for responsible large-scale solar development, and developing new measures to control wildlife and respond to wildlife damage on farms.

Photo Credit: pa-farm-bureau