New Jersey’s 2024 Outstanding Young Farmer, Byron DuBois of Salem County, was selected as a national winner at the 2024 National Outstanding Young Farmers Awards Congress held last week in Ferndale, Washington.
DuBois co-owns and operates Spring Brook Farms in Pittsgrove with his wife Karen and his father Henry. He was one of four national winners chosen from ten finalists based on their agricultural career progress, soil and water conservation practices, and contributions to the community, state, and nation.
“It was a whirlwind of emotions this past week as Karen and I were blessed to represent New Jersey and Spring Brook Farms at the Outstanding Farmers of America (OFA) Congress as a top 10 national finalist of their National Outstanding Young Farmers (NOYF) program,” Byron DuBois said. “All of the couples are amazing people and all well-deserved of their recognition. We were honored and humbled to have been chosen as one of the top four. It really could have been anyone in this great class of 2024.”
Byron credited his family for Spring Brook’s success. “I want to thank my parents, Henry and Marlene, for all the opportunities and support,” he said. “My sister, Crystal, for her hard work and dedication to the farm; my cousin Steve for always being there no matter what time of day; and every one of the Spring Brook Farms family current and past. Without these hard-working dedicated people, we could not do what we do. I am looking forward to growing lifelong friendships with the NOYF Class of 2024 as well as the many other members of the OFA.”
National winners will receive a cash award from the Outstanding Farmers of America, along with an opportunity to travel to Washington D.C., during National Ag Week in 2025. Additionally, all 2024 finalist registrants will be covered for their attendance at the 2025 National Outstanding Farmer Congress.
“The work Byron and his family have done over the past several years made them an exemplary candidate and we are proud they were recognized nationally with this honor,” NJDA Assistant Secretary of Agriculture Joe Atchison III said. “Byron’s passion for agriculture and vision for his family’s operation has made Spring Brook one of the outstanding farms in New Jersey as well as being a shining example to other farms in our state and country.”
Byron learned many aspects of farming from Henry. By his teenage years, he was operating equipment for spinach harvests, combining grain, and harvesting green beans. The primary crops grown on their more than 4,000 acres include carryover spinach, spring spinach, fall spinach, winter spinach, sweet corn, tomatoes, field corn, soybeans, and wheat.
Over time, Byron has led efforts to make farm operations more efficient by upgrading equipment for quicker harvests using GPS technology for precise planting methods. Detailed mapping information is used to identify specific soil types in fields leading to more economical use of fertilizers and irrigation.
Spring Brook Farms participates in USDA’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and Natural Resources Conservation Service Irrigation Water Management Programs which help reduce soil erosion allowing water drainage without soil disturbance.
Other National Outstanding Young Farmer winners from New Jersey include Abbott Lee (1985), James Giamarese (1989), Robert Von Thun (2001), Jeff Vander Groef (2005), Will Sytsema (2009), Richard Norz (2010), John Melick (2011), Duce Tallamy (2012), Jess Niederer (2016), Hillary Barile (2021).
The NOYF program is the oldest farmer recognition program in the United States with its first group selected in 1955. Its goals include fostering better urban-rural relations through understanding farmers’ challenges; appreciating their contributions; generating interest in farming; building urban awareness about farmers’ importance; impacting America’s economy positively.
