David
J. Kanach of Branchburg, Somerset County, was sworn
in recently as a member of the State Board of Agriculture
representing the dairy industry. His term expires
in 2003. Kanach's River Lea Farm is a third generation
dairy farm located at the confluence of the north
and south branches of the Raritan River. Currently
Kanach, along with his wife, Paula, and his sons,
Matthew and Scott, milk over 100 Holsteins twice
daily. In addition to the dairy operation, the
Kanach's grow over 400 acres of corn, soybeans
and wheat, 100 acres of alfalfa to support the
dairy herd, 200 acres of Timothy and 100 acres
of pasture. The picturesque farm has been used
as a backdrop in a variety of commercial advertisements.
River Lea Farm was one of the first dairy farms
in the state to receive the Dairy of Distinction
award from the Garden State Milk Council. A graduate
of Boston College, School of Management with a
bachelor of science degree in finance, Kanach also
graduated from a two-year accelerated Honeywell
Information Systems management program emphasizing
financial development and is a graduate of the
1997 class of the New Jersey Agricultural Leadership
Development Program. Kanach has been very active
in New Jersey's agricultural community. He was
a member of the Advisory Board for the New Jersey
Agricultural Leadership Development Program from
1997 to 1998 and has been an active member, director
or alternate director of the New Jersey Farm Bureau
in Somerset County since 1986. In addition, Kanach
has been a member of the Somerset County Board
of Agriculture since 1983, holding many positions
and committee chairs, including president and vice-president;
a member of the New Jersey Grain and Forage Growers
Association; and a member of the New Jersey Agricultural
Society. His civic involvement includes service
as a Branchburg Township district person from 1990
to 1992 and membership in the Holy Trinity Church.
Kanach was twice named the Somerset County Conservation
Farmer of the Year by the USDA's Natural Resources
Conservation Service in 1983 and 1992 and received
the State Discussion Meet Winner Award from the
New Jersey Farm Bureau in 1983. Russell J. Marino,
a vegetable and fruit grower from Swedesboro, Gloucester
County, was also sworn in as a member of the State
Board of Agriculture representing the vegetable
industry. The State Board of Agriculture elected
Roger Ruske of Millville, Cumberland County, to
serve as president and Bix DiMeo of Colts Neck,
Monmouth County, as vice president. Other members
of the Board are Abbott Lee of Chatsworth, Steven
Jany of Hightstown, Thomas A. Brodhecker of Newton
and Douglas Zee of Glassboro. The eight-member
State Board of Agriculture is the highest official
policy-making body in the state. Only those who
are involved in producing farm crops or livestock
products are eligible and membership must represent
each of the four leading agricultural commodities.
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