Dairy farming couple wins national award

A Clovis dairy farming couple was one of four national winners of 2021's National Outstanding Young Farmers awards, sponsored by the Outstanding Farmers of America (OFA), a fraternal organization.

The OFA announced its 2022 and 2021 winners last week in a news release.

The Clovis winners, Jeroen and Traci van der Ploeg, operate a dairy farm near Clovis that also grows beef cattle, corn and wheat.

According to the OFA, Outstanding Young Farmer awards are based on progress in their agricultural career, extent of soil and water conservation practices and contributions to the well-being of the community, state and nation.

An OFA newsletter item on the van der Ploegs noted the couple have "diversified their farm by incorporating a milk and yogurt company as well as a specialty shop to direct-market their products."

The newsletter also notes that Jeroen van der Ploeg immigrated to the U.S. from the Netherlands with his father to pursue farming opportunities. Jeroen is a ninth-generation dairy farmer, the newsletter noted.