Greg Garrisson selected Maine's young potato farmer of the year

At 43, Gregg Garrison is amused that he’s been targeted as a young and up-and-coming potato farmer.

“The new young is 40,” he says, after giving a small chuckle when asked his age. “I probably don’t look the part.”

The Maine Potato Board at the end of 2009 selected Garrison as young farmer of the year after being impressed by how he ran his family’s operation, according to Tim Hobbs of the Maine Potato Board. Not that Garrison calls attention to him or his farm’s success, Hobbs adds.

“When we select the young farmer, we select someone who’s a leader and stands out,” Hobbs says. “One of the things about potato farmers in Maine, they’re humble, sometimes they feel awkward, but don’t let them fool you.”