Young Farmer of the Year 

(Presque Isle) ­ The Maine Potato Board has announced their 2002 Young Farmer of the Year Award. Kyle Blackstone of Caribou has been named Young Farmer of the Year. Kyle Blackstone and his wife Michele grow 400 acres of potatoes for processing and seed.

Blackstone is a third generation potato farmer, learning from his
father that farming is a way of life as well as a business. He operates
with a philosophy of incorporating new ideas with old in order to
achieve a well-rounded, better-working farm. Blackstone has implemented several quality-based improvements in his operation, including a growing seed business in the northeastern United States as well as Canada.

Blackstone plans to continue building his farming operation into a strong business by focusing on growing quality potatoes and grains. "Quality and good management are keys to a successful farm," explained Blackstone. "These are factors which affect the Maine Potato Industry as a whole. If we as Maine farmers strive to attain top-quality with our potatoes, we will have an internationally marketable product." Don Flannery, Assistant Executive Director of the Maine Potato Board, expressed the Board¹s congratulations to the Blackstone family. "Kyle has shown success through forward-thinking, not only in the potato industry, but in the agricultural industry," Flannery said. "We believe the Blackstone¹s are a vital part of a successful future in the Maine potato industry."

If you would like more information on Maine's Young Farmer of the Year, please contact Don Flannery at (207) 769-5061 or visit the Maine Potato Board's web site at www.mainepotatoes.com.