Somerset County Wins National Award for “Farm to Frame” Agriculture & Arts Program

SOMERVILLE, NJ – Somerset County’s innovative “Farm to Frame” program combining agriculture and art won a National Association of Counties (NACo) 2024 Achievement Award at its national conference this week. More than thirty artists from throughout the Garden State created works of art based on local farms, highlighting the beauty and importance of Somerset County’s preserved farmland and agricultural industry.

“Our farmers are integral to Somerset County’s healthy environment and economic vitality, and the artists who participated in the Farm to Frame program captured them perfectly,” said Director Shanel Y. Robinson who accepted the award at the conference. “This NACo Achievement Award was presented to Somerset County, but is truly earned by the artists and their agricultural inspirations. We are honored to have helped make the program a reality.”

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The Somerset County Farm to Frame program is a collaborative effort between the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission and the Somerset County Agriculture Development Board celebrating the 40 ^th anniversary of both programs and was designed to showcase the beauty and importance of Somerset County’s preserved farmland through the eyes of New Jersey artists. Each participating artist was given a year to visit their assigned preserved farm in Somerset County and capture its beauty in the two-dimensional medium of their choosing. In total, eighteen preserved farms were featured, and fifty-four pieces of artwork were produced, exhibiting at five different locations across the county for half a year. A digital version of the exhibit is also hosted on the county website at https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/government/public-works/cultural-heritage/public-art-exhibits/virtual-farm-to-frame .

“The Achievement Awards recognize excellence in county government and effective public service,” said NACo President Mary Jo McGuire. “This year’s winners have delivered results for our residents and demonstrated innovative efforts to strengthen our communities.”

The Somerset County Agriculture Development Board was founded 40 years ago, and since then has preserved 128 farms totaling  8,638.96 acres through the County’s Farmland Preservation Program. The Farmland Preservation Program currently has roughly 2,675.08 acres in various stages of preservation.

Founded in 1983, the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission has provided thousands of Somerset County residents and visitors with annual arts, cultural and history programming. The Commission also manages the Historic Preservation Grant Program, which has dedicated over $22 million to the preservation of historic sites in Somerset County. The Frame to Frame exhibit was made possible with funds from the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

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