State Representative Howard Pearl (center) presents the NHFB Young Farmer Excellence in Agriculture Award to Bruce & Rebecca Stevens of Epsom at the NHFB 101st Annual Meeting

The 2017 NHFB Young Farmer Excellence in Agriculture Award was given to Bruce & Rebecca Stevens of Epsom, NH. The award acknowledges the efforts of Young Farmers who do not derive the majority of their income from farming, but are actively contributing to agriculture and to their community.

Bruce & Rebecca Stevens have a small farm in Epsom raising beef cattle and hay. Rebecca became involved with FFA while attending Coe-Brown Northwood Academy winning numerous awards and serving as chapter Vice-President. She was instrumental in the formation of the school’s FFA Alumni Chapter and served two terms as President. Bruce gained experience in agriculture working for local dairy farms and eventually started working for Dairy Farmers of America as a milk truck driver. He now owns his own commercial trucking company. Rebecca has served on the Merrimack County Farm Bureau Board of Directors for many years and is currently serving her first term as President.

The Stevens will move on to compete with other Excellence in Agriculture Award winners from across the country at the American Farm Bureau Annual Convention in Nashville, Tennessee this January.

A panel of judges consisting of State Representative and farmer Howard Pearl, Michael McPhail from Farm Credit East, and Becky Nelson of Beaver Pond Farm selected the Stevens from among three nominees. Also nominated for the award were Amy Matarozzo of Center Barnstead and Daimon Meeh of Brentwood.