TRENTON – The New Jersey State Board of Agriculture installed two new members on July 24 during its reorganization meeting held in Eastampton — David Klemm of Newton, representing the equine industry, and Santo John Maccherone of Mullica Hill, representing the fruit industry.
Klemm and Maccherone were elected by the delegates at the February 2013 State Agricultural Convention for recommendation to the Governor for nomination and later confirmed by the State Senate.
“Dave Klemm from North Jersey and Santo John Maccherone from South Jersey are agricultural leaders,” said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher. “They bring their vast knowledge and experience to the State Board of Agriculture, which sets policy for the industry throughout the entire state. We look forward to working with them on many important issues.”
Also during the reorganization meeting, Robert Swanekamp, a Monmouth County flower and plant grower, was selected to serve as Board President and Francisco Allende, a South Jersey peach farmer, as Vice President.
Klemm and his son, Bradley, second and third-generation farmers, own Waterwheel Farm, which has been in the family for 50 years. A horse boarding business has been in operation for 35 years and most of the farm’s 500 acres are used as pastureland for the horses. Klemm grows grass and hay for the horses and also raises beef and free-range turkeys.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Concordia College in Bronxville, NY in Business Management and in 2009 received his Realtor License. He is a member and past-president of the Sussex County Board of Agriculture and a member and Director Alternate for New Jersey Farm Bureau. He is active in Redeemer Lutheran Church and currently serves as church Vice-President.
Maccherone’s Circle M Farms was established in 1942 and is a fourth-generation family owned and operated business. He grows 150 acres of peaches and nectarines, 10 acres of apples, four acres of plums, 25 acres of asparagus and 150 acres of small grains in Mullica Hill, Gloucester County and Salem, Salem County. Maccherone also produces peach cider, peach preserves, peach salsa and plum cider under the Circle M label.
Maccherone earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Glassboro State College. He is a member of the Gloucester Council Board of Agriculture, New Jersey Peach Promotion Council and New Jersey Peach Council. He was director of the Swedesboro Market and previously served on the Harrison Township Planning Board, Environmental Council and Economic Development Board.
The State Board of Agriculture comprises eight members who serve for four years, with two members being replaced each year. By law, at least four of its members must represent the top commodity groups in the state. Members serve without salary. For more information, visit www.nj.gov/agriculture/about/sba.
To learn more about the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NJDeptofAgriculture and www.facebook.com/JerseyFreshOfficial or Twitter @NJDA1.
Source: New Jersey Department of Agriculture
