The President's Award is presented to individuals or organizations who have made significant contributions to the New Jersey Agricultural Society and the entire NJ agriculture industry. This award is presented at the Society’s Annual Dinner Gala, held each spring.
2019 President's Award
Kristina Guttadora
Kristina Guttadora
Kristina Guttadora first became interested in agriculture while working on her neighbor’s Christmas tree farm in Pottstown, PA and through her high school agricultural education class. She went on to pursue her Bachelor of Science in Plant Science at Rutgers University, and Masters in Agricultural Education from North Carolina State University, while gaining experience in the horticulture industry throughout her early career.
Kris served as a high school agricultural educator and FFA advisor in Freehold Township for ten years, and as President of the New Jersey Association of Agricultural Educators. Kris has been a long time volunteer for Farmers Against Hunger, bringing her students for gleaning field trips as early as 2004, and continuing to do so today.
In 2011, Kris took the opportunity to shift her career direction to serve as the director of Farmers Against Hunger, and shortly thereafter, as Executive Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Society. Kris’s time with the Society was focused on moving each of the programs in new directions. As staffing changes occurred for both the New Jersey Agricultural Leadership Development Program and Learning Through Gardening, Kris worked closely with the board and newly hired program directors to insure the success of both programs moving forward. Her passion for Farmers Against Hunger motivated her to encourage new farms to participate and to advocate for public awareness of gleaning through outreach and legislative support of Gleaning Week and Farmers Against Hunger Day. She continually searched for ways to expand the funding sources for new projects, culminating her efforts through the purchase of the new delivery truck in 2017.
Kris returned to teaching horticulture at the Monmouth County Career Center, in Freehold, and continues to have her students assist the Society in various projects, including packing plant plugs for Learning Through Gardening, and raising funds for Farmers Against Hunger at the Monmouth County Fair. Kris believes strongly in the need to train skilled workers and looks forward to collaborating with the industry to strengthen agricultural education to fill this need.
Kris served as a high school agricultural educator and FFA advisor in Freehold Township for ten years, and as President of the New Jersey Association of Agricultural Educators. Kris has been a long time volunteer for Farmers Against Hunger, bringing her students for gleaning field trips as early as 2004, and continuing to do so today.
In 2011, Kris took the opportunity to shift her career direction to serve as the director of Farmers Against Hunger, and shortly thereafter, as Executive Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Society. Kris’s time with the Society was focused on moving each of the programs in new directions. As staffing changes occurred for both the New Jersey Agricultural Leadership Development Program and Learning Through Gardening, Kris worked closely with the board and newly hired program directors to insure the success of both programs moving forward. Her passion for Farmers Against Hunger motivated her to encourage new farms to participate and to advocate for public awareness of gleaning through outreach and legislative support of Gleaning Week and Farmers Against Hunger Day. She continually searched for ways to expand the funding sources for new projects, culminating her efforts through the purchase of the new delivery truck in 2017.
Kris returned to teaching horticulture at the Monmouth County Career Center, in Freehold, and continues to have her students assist the Society in various projects, including packing plant plugs for Learning Through Gardening, and raising funds for Farmers Against Hunger at the Monmouth County Fair. Kris believes strongly in the need to train skilled workers and looks forward to collaborating with the industry to strengthen agricultural education to fill this need.
Past President's Award Recipients
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2018
2017 2016 2015 2014 2015 |
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New Jersey Office of Agricultural Education / NJ FFA Association Campbell's Soup Farm Credit East Joni Elliott -- |
2012
2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 |
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