Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

Gov. Carcieri and W. Michael Sullivan, director of the state Department of Environmental Management, inducted several more veteran Rhode Island farmers into the Rhode Island Agricultural Hall of Fame Tuesday during the state's annual Agriculture Day program. The farmers, all greeted with loud applause, are:

* Richard Jaswell of Smithield, who has farmed his entire life on a farm started by his grandfather, Nicholas. Jaswells was one of the first farms to allow customers to pick their own apples and in the 1970s it began hosting visits by school children.

* Don and Heather Minto of Jamestown have managed the Watson Farm since 1980. They raise and sell grass-fed beef and lamb and help restore the farm's grasslands. They've also been instrumental in setting up local slaughtering facilities for farmers.

* Frank and Anthony Williams, who operated Forest Hills Nurseries Inc. of Cranston for 65 years. Frank is the father of the now-retired state Supreme Court justice. Both Williams were noted for their public service.

* The late Cornelius "Case" Hoogendoorn of Newport and the late Martin Van Hof, Sr. of Portsmouth were also recognized. Hoogendoorn, a native of Holland, started a nursery in Newport in 1925 and with his sons developed it into an industry leader. Van Hof was born in the Netherlands in 1892. He became a propagator at Rhode Island Nurseries in 1923, where he moved to the forefront of nursery research.

 Tags  jamestown Rhode Island Agricultural Hall of Fame

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