Ag Family of the Day Recognition Program

Sponsored by:

The Nebraska State Fair Board and Nebraska Farm Bureau will honor five "Ag Families of the Day" at the 2010 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 7, 2010!

Honored families will be recognized on five weekend days:

Aug. 28 * Aug. 29 * Sept. 4 * Sept. 5 * Sept. 6

Honorees receive:

• Complimentary gate admission
• Complimentary midway passes
• A one-night stay in a Grand Island hotel
• $100 cash
• Recognition at an awards program at the fair
• Reception in their honor
• Featured status in the daily parade
• 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 and State Fair 1868 Foundation Board.
• 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.

2009 Ag Family Honorees

The Ben and Paula Sue Steffen Family of Humboldt

The Gary and Sarah Lambrecht Family of Kennard

The Bruce and Julie Rickertsen Family of Lexington

The Brian and Lori Armstrong Family of Brule

The Wayne and Ardyce Arnold Family of Shelton

2008 Ag Family Honorees

The Andy and Ellen Schmidt Family of Deshler

The Terry and Dena Mills Family of Arnold

The Terry and Debbie Borg Family of Allen

The Multi-Generational Family of Mary and the late Bill Stuart of Bayard

The Larry and Janet Neujahr Family of Osceola

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