Bill & Heidi Bartlett of Bartlett’s Blueberry Farm in Newport were presented with the prestigious NHFB Profile Award by Seth Wilner at the NHFB 101st Annual Meeting.

Each year, NHFB has the honor of presenting the Profile Award to recognize a New Hampshire person or persons for distinguished service to agriculture and rural life. Nominations for this award come from County Farm Bureau Board of Directors and are judged by a panel of past Profile Award winners.

The 2017 Profile Award was presented to Bill & Heidi Bartlett of Bartlett Blueberry Farm in Newport, NH. Bill & Heidi Bartlett purchased what is now Bartlett’s Blueberry Farm in Newport in 1985 and have continued its growth as a successful farm and business for over 30 years. Beyond that, their contributions to the community have been just as important as their dedication to agriculture.

The Bartletts care for about 5 acres of blueberry bushes containing 15 varieties and sell their entire product directly to customers through pick-your-own. In addition to improving production through the use of drip irrigation and new varieties, the couple has expanded their business to include a blueberry netting enterprise where they sell netting and provide technical assistance to other blueberry farmers. Their farm is often host to twilight meetings and other educational events and was named a NH Farm of Distinction in 2001 by the NH Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food.

Both Bill & Heidi have been active Farm Bureau members for over 45 years. Bill served on the Sullivan County Farm Bureau Board of Directors for close to a decade. Both of them have taken time to help prepare Farm Bureau activities at the Cornish Fair despite it being their busy season and have dedicated time to serve their town, their church, and the farm community.

Their efforts and attitudes can be summarized by the sign that welcomes people to their farm, “Do the best that you can in the place where you are, and be kind.” Congratulations Bill & Heidi Bartlett!