Lancashire Farm has been named Alaska’s 2022 Farm Family of the Year. The Soldotna farm that began homesteading on the Kenai Peninsula in 1948 raises sheep and lambs for meat and 4-H kids, meat and layer chickens, ducks, timothy hay, berries, vegetables, and fiber from sheep for wool and yarn.
Martha Merry, Amy Seitz, and Jane Conway all own and operate Lancashire Farm in Soldotna. Rusty and Larry Lancashire, Martha’s parents and Amy’s grandparents, started the production more than 70 years ago. Merry oversees the garden and produce, Conway manages the fiber sheep and wool products, and Seitz directs the livestock, hay, and general operations.
Governor Mike Dunleavy said:
“Lancashire Farm is the perfect example of what sustainable agriculture in Alaska looks like. I applaud the efforts of Martha Merry, Amy Seitz, and Jane Conway to continue improving and modernizing traditional farming practices and sharing that knowledge with the agriculture community. They are helping Alaskans across the state achieve food security now and in the future.”
The family has been a vendor at the Soldotna Saturday Farmer’s Market for many years. In addition, Amy Seitz is the Executive Director of the Alaska Farm Bureau. The family are active participants in the Fireweed Fiber Guild and the Alaska Food Hub, and are supporters of 4-H, the Kenai Local Food Connection, and the Alaska Food Policy Council.
Seitz said:
“It’s a great feeling to be part of filling a need. Alaska needs more instate production of food and other agriculture products. While there are plenty of challenges to farming in Alaska, we would rather take on the challenges here compared to what other states face.”
The Farm Family of the Year award is given to honor an Alaska farm family that epitomizes the spirit of the industry each year, as well as express appreciation for the hard-working Alaskans committed to agriculture.
Division of Agriculture Interim Director Mia Kirk said:
“Congratulations to the Lancashire Farm’s Martha Merry, Amy Seitz, Jane Conway, and their family. Their multigenerational farm family demonstrates exceptional resilience to farming in Alaska. Lancashire Farm’s community involvement and dedication to agriculture industry organizations epitomizes the spirit of the industry. We thank the family for their many contributions to agriculture in Alaska.”
Click here to review the list of winners from previous years.