On March 29th, the New Jersey Agricultural Society hosted its Annual Gala at the Crowne Plaza Princeton Conference Center—our first time at this beautiful venue, and it made the night feel especially memorable. Over 200 friends, farmers, educators, and supporters gathered to reconnect, share stories, and celebrate the people who keep New Jersey agriculture strong. The evening also featured great food, live music, a silent auction, a wine cork pull, and a 50/50 raffle—all of which added to the fun and made for a great night.
We were proud to honor four outstanding leaders in New Jersey agriculture. Opening with the Century Farm Award, secretary Ed Wengryn, presented the award to Viereck Farms of Swedesboro, a fifth-generation farm that has been feeding its community for over 100 years. Joel Viereck, representing the fourth generation, humbly accepted the award on behalf of his family, honoring their long-standing commitment to sustainable farming and local community engagement.
Honored with the President’s Award was Ryck Suydam. Representing a staggering 12 generations of farmers on his family’s Somerset County land, Ryck has carried that legacy forward, leading as president of the NJ Farm Bureau for ten years. He also serves on the Somerset County Board of Agriculture, and has persistently supported organizations like the NJ Ag Society as a former board member, New Jersey Department of Agriculture, and Rutgers University throughout his career. In his speech, he reminded us how vital it is to get involved and see the bigger picture, and shared, “Being a farmer—I feel lucky every day.”
Awarded with the Tony Russo Marketing Award was Barlow Flower Farm, accepted by Steve Barlow. What started as a small growing greenhouse 40 years ago along the Jersey Shore has bloomed into a standout destination with a strong online presence, gardening club, creative events like their workshops and packed winter market, and an unprecedented e-commerce plant platform. Steve gave a nod to his mom's early marketing smarts, explaining how simply supporting local organizations and getting involved in the community laid the groundwork for their thriving approach today.
The Gold Medallion Award presentation was a standout moment of the evening, as Bill Griffin and Jim Giamarese honored Joni Elliott, past president of the New Jersey Agricultural Society and longtime representative of the Department of Agriculture. Calling her “the nucleus of the current Ag Society,” Elliott took the helm as director of NJAS in 1991 back when it was still integrated into the NJ Department of Agriculture. There, she transformed it from a $60,000 operation into a nearly half-million dollar organization with multiple thriving programs. She reflected on her work with Farmers Against Hunger, sharing, “I at least could go to bed at night knowing that we provided thousands of people a week with fresh nutritious produce.” And despite entering the industry with no agricultural background, she became a mentor and guiding force for many in the agriculture community. She bravely named those who supported her throughout her career, including farmers, trustees, and longtime staff. In her closing, she invited many of her supporters to join her at the podium, sharing the moment with gratitude saying, “Some people say it takes a village; I say it takes people who care.”
Thank you to our sponsors, donors, Ag Journal advertisers, and the NJAS Board of Trustees for making it all possible. Proceeds from the Gala support the Society’s three core programs: Farmers Against Hunger, Agricultural Education, and the New Jersey Agricultural Leadership Development Program.
Here’s to the stories we shared, the people we honored, and the future we’re growing together. See you again next year!
We were proud to honor four outstanding leaders in New Jersey agriculture. Opening with the Century Farm Award, secretary Ed Wengryn, presented the award to Viereck Farms of Swedesboro, a fifth-generation farm that has been feeding its community for over 100 years. Joel Viereck, representing the fourth generation, humbly accepted the award on behalf of his family, honoring their long-standing commitment to sustainable farming and local community engagement.
Honored with the President’s Award was Ryck Suydam. Representing a staggering 12 generations of farmers on his family’s Somerset County land, Ryck has carried that legacy forward, leading as president of the NJ Farm Bureau for ten years. He also serves on the Somerset County Board of Agriculture, and has persistently supported organizations like the NJ Ag Society as a former board member, New Jersey Department of Agriculture, and Rutgers University throughout his career. In his speech, he reminded us how vital it is to get involved and see the bigger picture, and shared, “Being a farmer—I feel lucky every day.”
Awarded with the Tony Russo Marketing Award was Barlow Flower Farm, accepted by Steve Barlow. What started as a small growing greenhouse 40 years ago along the Jersey Shore has bloomed into a standout destination with a strong online presence, gardening club, creative events like their workshops and packed winter market, and an unprecedented e-commerce plant platform. Steve gave a nod to his mom's early marketing smarts, explaining how simply supporting local organizations and getting involved in the community laid the groundwork for their thriving approach today.
The Gold Medallion Award presentation was a standout moment of the evening, as Bill Griffin and Jim Giamarese honored Joni Elliott, past president of the New Jersey Agricultural Society and longtime representative of the Department of Agriculture. Calling her “the nucleus of the current Ag Society,” Elliott took the helm as director of NJAS in 1991 back when it was still integrated into the NJ Department of Agriculture. There, she transformed it from a $60,000 operation into a nearly half-million dollar organization with multiple thriving programs. She reflected on her work with Farmers Against Hunger, sharing, “I at least could go to bed at night knowing that we provided thousands of people a week with fresh nutritious produce.” And despite entering the industry with no agricultural background, she became a mentor and guiding force for many in the agriculture community. She bravely named those who supported her throughout her career, including farmers, trustees, and longtime staff. In her closing, she invited many of her supporters to join her at the podium, sharing the moment with gratitude saying, “Some people say it takes a village; I say it takes people who care.”
Thank you to our sponsors, donors, Ag Journal advertisers, and the NJAS Board of Trustees for making it all possible. Proceeds from the Gala support the Society’s three core programs: Farmers Against Hunger, Agricultural Education, and the New Jersey Agricultural Leadership Development Program.
Here’s to the stories we shared, the people we honored, and the future we’re growing together. See you again next year!
