Maine Potato Board announces Young Farmer of the Year

    PRESQUE ISLE — The Maine Potato Board has selected Brandon Berce of St. Agatha as the industry’s 2012 Young Farmer of the Year. The 28-year old Berce farms with his father and brother, Ned and Niklas, in the heart of the St. John Valley.
    Although the Berce name is no stranger to those in the potato industry, Brandon did not set his sights initially on going into business as a potato grower.
    “In high school and college I wasn’t sure what I’d be doing but I was pretty sure it wouldn’t be farming! I graduated from the University of Maine with a degree in finance and marketing, got hired right after college … had a good job … working hard,” he said. “I decided that if I was going to work this hard, I might as well be working for myself. So I came back to the farm, and it sure was the right decision and at the right time in my life.”
    Berce adds that he worked on the farm growing up and also a couple summers during college as “it was always there” for him.
    “Mom and Dad (Ned and Carol Berce) never pushed me or my brother to go into farming … it was whatever career choice would make us happy,” he said. “And I’m happy here at Berce Farms in St. Agatha.”
    Berce has the best interests of the entire potato industry at heart. He believes that growers need hands-on involvement in industry organizations and associations, at the regional, state and national levels.
    “This is what’s key to the health and sustainability of the Maine potato industry,” he said, “and I plan to be a grower and a part of this industry for a long time. Lots of people can grow potatoes, but not everybody can successfully market their crop and stay in the business. The difference is in being involved, learning from others, and networking and sharing with colleagues in the industry.”
    Berce Farms grow seed potato varieties for Frito-Lay, and Brandon serves on the Maine Potato Board’s seed growers’ executive council. He is also a member of the Central Aroostook Young Farmers organization.
    Closer to home, Berce volunteers at the Long Lake Public Library and was recently appointed to the library’s board of directors. He is also a member of the St. Agatha board of appeals.
    The Berce family was selected as Farm Family of the Year in 2002.
    Don Flannery, executive director of the Maine Potato Board, expressed confidence and enthusiasm for the industry’s latest “young farmer” honoree.
    “The selection of the Young Farmer of the Year covers a number of criteria, and Brandon rates high in all of them,” he said. “Brandon’s an excellent representative of the future of the Maine potato industry.”
    The criteria for honoring a grower as the Young Farmer of the Year includes:
• be 40 years of age or younger;
• have outstanding farming practices;
• show growth and advancements in their farming operations;
• leadership within the industry;
• involvement with MPB activities;
• willingness to explore new methods, technologies, and advancements in the potato industry; and
• participation in the local community, church and other civic groups.
    The 2012 Young Farmer of the Year will be recognized and honored at the Maine Potato Board’s annual dinner and meeting March 16 at The Crow’s Nest in Presque Isle.