4-17-2023 1:48pm

Sussex County’s Ashleigh Dickson Chosen as 2023 New Jersey Agricultural Fair Ambassador

Sussex County Teenager to Promote Agriculture and Support Farmers Across the State

Montague resident Ashleigh Dickson, a 17-year-old Sussex County Technical High School student, has been named the 2023 New Jersey Agricultural Fair Ambassador by the Agricultural Fair Association of New Jersey. As ambassador, Dickson will visit the state's agricultural fairs throughout 2023, promote agriculture to the public, and bring people together to support local farmers.

New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher praised Dickson's appointment, saying, "Ashleigh’s leadership and participation with various industry-related organizations has prepared her to be an outstanding representative at our state’s agricultural fairs this summer. The Ag Fair Ambassador is an important role for ag education in the Garden State."

A passionate advocate for agriculture, Dickson currently serves as the president of the Sussex Shepherds 4-H Club, where she has won multiple awards, including Grand Champion Overall honors for Ram, Ewe, and Market Lamb at the Sussex County Farm and Horse Show.

Dickson's dedication to agriculture extends to her role as the president of the Sussex Tech FFA Chapter, where she has earned numerous accolades, such as first-place prizes for her Cascading Bouquet and Harvest Festival arrangements in the 2022 FFA Horticulture Exposition Career Development Event.

In addition to her involvement with 4-H and FFA, Dickson is a Junior Firefighter at the Montague Volunteer Fire Department, a member of the Girl Scouts of America, the Montague Grange, and the New Jersey Farm Bureau. Upon graduating high school this spring, she plans to continue her education in agriculture by majoring in Agricultural Business at Sussex County Community College.

Emphasizing the importance of agriculture, Dickson said, "I think that agriculture is one of the most rewarding and important industries because it affects everyone from the biggest cities to the smallest of neighborhoods. When you are involved in agriculture, you know that you have an impact on a lot of people."

This marks the 19th year the Agricultural Fair Association of New Jersey has named an ambassador, aiming to find young individuals who can represent the state's active agricultural community and their county fair. Dickson plans to attend as many fairs as possible, including some in South Jersey where she has family.

New Jersey will host 19 agricultural fairs this summer, starting in late June and running until mid-September. For the full schedule of New Jersey's agricultural fairs, visit https://bit.ly/3Dlv2KY.