Ag Family of the Day Recognition Program

Sponsored by:

The Nebraska State Fair Board, Nebraska Farm Bureau and KLKN TV, Lincoln, will honor five "Ag Families of the Day" at the 2008 Nebraska State Fair. The families will be selected from nominations submitted by fellow Nebraskans.

Agriculture is Nebraska's number one industry. It creates one of every three Nebraska jobs in food processing, distribution, marketing, research and other fields. We want to honor families who are the "faces" of the agricultural industry and showcase the great job they do in providing food for Nebraska, the nation and the world.

We're looking for families who exemplify the best qualities of Nebraska's farmers and ranchers. You probably know several qualified families!

You can submit a nomination in one of two ways —

• Click here to print a nomination form, which you can mail to the address shown.
• Or, click here to submit a nomination online.

Nomination deadline is June 16, 2008!

Honored families will be recognized on five weekend days:

Aug. 23 * Aug. 24 * Aug. 30 * Aug. 31 * Sept. 1

Honorees receive:

• Complimentary gate admission
• Complimentary midway passes
• A one-night stay in a Lincoln hotel
• $100 cash
• Recognition at an awards program in the State Fair's Ag Hall
• Reception in their honor
• Featured status in the daily parade (and candy to throw to the crowd). Family and friends of the honorees are welcome to walk in the parade with them.
• Featured on KLKN TV's Evening News
• Other recognition

Selection Criteria:

• Honorees will be judged on their contributions to their community, Nebraska and agriculture.
• Farming or ranching must be the primary occupation of the nominees.
• Although this recognition program does not divide the state into geographic regions for purposes of nomination or selection, judges will attempt to select winners geographically distributed across the state.
• Judges will also attempt to select winners whose enterprises represent the diversity of agriculture across the state.
• Decisions of the judges will be final.
• Judging panel will include representatives from Farm Bureau, State Fair Board, State Fair staff, State Fair 1868 Foundation Board and KLKN TV
• Farm Bureau membership is not a criterion for selection.
• Nominated families may be a single generation or multiple generations.

The State Fair Ag Family of the Day program was begun in 2007. In December 2007, the International Association of Fairs and Expositions honored it as the Best New Agricultural Program of all state fairs in Nebraska's attendance size category.

2007 Ag Family Honorees

The Craig and Jan Frenzen Family of Fullerton

The multi-generational Sullivan Family of Wallace:
John & Donna, Michael & Terry, Douglas & Michelle

The Terry and Betty Rasmussen Family of Arlington

The Thorpe and Shelly Thompson Family of Whitney

Bud (Claus) and Maylo Knuth of Royal