PIERRE — The South Dakota Specialty Producers Association invites the public to participate in voting for the South Dakota Specialty Crop Producer of the Year Award. Cast votes by Jan. 15 for a farmer who has made a significant contribution to specialty crop production in the state.

Specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and nursery crops, including floriculture. The award is sponsored in part by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Three candidates have moved forward for public voting.

• Alan Carner, Black Hills Mushrooms, Rapid City
• Rodney Peachey, Prairie Lane Farm, Newell
• Christy Heckathorn, Fleurish Flower Farm, Elk Point.

To learn more about the candidates and to access the voting form, visit the SDSPA website at https://sdspecialtyproducers.org/p/11811.

The South Dakota Specialty Crop Producer of the Year is someone who:

• Provides visionary leadership to South Dakota’s agricultural industry, and advocates for specialty crops — fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and nursery crops, including floriculture.
• Actively promotes growth, innovation, and prosperity for South Dakota local food systems and specialty crops.
• Mentors new and beginner farmers and invests in the next generation of producers.

The winner will be announced during the Upper Midwest Urban and Rural Agriculture Innovation Conference on Feb. 8-9 in Chamberlain.

The nominees will receive a complimentary one-day pass to the conference (https://www.conference.sdspecialtyproducers.org/). The Specialty Crop Producer of the Year winner will receive an award plaque and a one-year membership to the association. They will be featured in a statewide news release, on the SDSPA website and social media sites, and in the SDSPA newsletter.