The New England Vegetable Berry Growers Association, the oldest vegetable growers association in America, chose to acknowledge George Hamilton’s many years of dedicated effort at the 2019 New England Vegetable Fruit Growers Conference with a presentation of the Robert E Young Award, given to individuals in recognition of their service to vegetable and berry producers, on December 11th in Manchester, NH.
For 30 years George Hamilton, a Field Specialist in Food and Agriculture with UNH Extension, has served the fruit and vegetable producers of New Hampshire and beyond with ongoing research, educational programming and consultation. His contributions have been integral to the health, vitality and growth of the berry and vegetable growing industries in the state.
This is a meaningful award to Hamilton, as the first recipient was Dr. Otho Wells – a mentor of his and colleague for many years. The Robert E. Young Award was first given to Wells in 1989 during the first week of Hamilton’s tenure with UNH Cooperative Extension. Trevor Hardy of Brookdale Fruit Farm presented the award on behalf of the NEVBGA. Hardy credited Hamilton’s consultation, sprayer calibration programs and IPM recommendations as vital to the farmers of New Hampshire. His speech was bittersweet, though, as Hardy acknowledged the support Hamilton offered he and his family through the loss of his younger brother Tyler earlier in 2019, noting that Hamilton is known for caring about everyone he works with.
Please join us in congratulating George Hamilton for this well-deserved acknowledgement. If you would like to learn more about upcoming educational program, please subscribe to our NH Vegetable and Fruit News email list.
