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By WAYNE ALLEN

PDT Staff Writer

The Portsmouth Area Chamber of Commerce awarded Dale Kuhn with its annual Farmer of the Year Award on March 1.

“As a kid, this man dreamed of being a farmer to carry on the heritage of his grandfather and to pursue a passion of his own for the land. As he grew into an adult he worked the earth, but initially not as a farmer, as his small business took him elsewhere in life. Still, his dream of farming persisted,” said Wayne Kempf, chairman of the Portsmouth Area Chamber of Commerce. “In the early 90s he married his wife, Regina, and together they bought a 150-acre century farm in need of a lot of work. Later they would add another 80 acres to their original land holdings and rent more than 200 additional acres each year, planting mainly corn and soybeans.”

The Portsmouth Area Chamber of Commerce has been honoring the Farmer of the Year since 1957. The Chamber has recognized 55 area farmers since the award’s inception. According to the Chamber, there have been several second- and third-generation farmers named farmer of the year.

Kuhn was not available for comment.

Wayne Allen may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 208, or wallen@heartlandpublications.com.