ANDRE TOUGAS WINS $2,500 NEW ENGLAND APPLE SCHOLARSHIP
Andre Tougas of Northborough, MA, has been named winner of the New England McIntosh Growers Association's (NEMGA) annual scholarship. The $2,500 award is for students interested in pursuing a career in agriculture in New England.
Tougas is a senior at Cornell University, where he is studying farm business management and finance in the department of applied economics and management. He was raised and worked on his parents' farm, Tougas Family Farm, and plans to return there after graduation. The farm is a "pick-your-own" operation, selling a wide range of fruits including strawberries, peaches, pumpkins and apples. "The mission of the business is not only to sell the highest quality fruit in the area," he says, "but to provide our customers with a learning experience about New England farming in the hope that they will continue to support agriculture in the region."
"This year's pool of candidates was our strongest ever," said reviewer Robert Lievens of Woodmont Orchards in Londonderry, NH, a member of NEMGA's board of directors. He attributes this to the fact that the award increased to $2,500 this year from $1,000 in years past. "Choosing a winner was difficult, but we were very impressed with the quality of Andre's essay and the strength of his grades. He is clearly committed to the future of the New England apple industry."