Family will be honored at the Alaska State Fair
By Diego Flammini, Farms.com
Alaska’s Department of Natural Resources has named their 2015 Alaska State Fair Farm Family of the Year, who will be officially honored with the award on Thursday, August, 27th.
Todd and Roxann Pettit, who own Little Pitchfork Ranch in Palmer, Alaska will receive the honor. Their ranch started in 1947 when grandparents Jack and Jane Seeman established the ranch to be used as an oat and barley operation. At the time, it was 140-acres in size and has since expanded to a 600-acre property that Todd assumed ownership of during the 1990s.
“I would like to congratulate the Pettit family for being chosen as the 2015 Farm Family of the year. It is an honor to be nominated by their peers for their active involvement in the community and the agriculture legacy they began building in Alaska in 1947,” said Franci Havemeister, director of the Division of Agriculture.
When Todd took over, beef prices were low, giving him the idea to introduce bison because they birth small calves and can survive by eating snow as a water source. Roxann has been using bison wool for 15 years to make garments and other items that she sells to her community. Todd began managing the Windy Valley Musk Ox Farm and has produced qiviut wool and is trying to increase the musk ox population.
The Pettits are very involved with Alaska’s agricultural community and founded the Alaska Diversified Livestock Association; Todd sits on many boards including the Agriculture Plant Materials Center Advisory Board and the Alaska Farmland Trust Board of Directors.
Congratulations to Todd, Roxann and the entire Pettit family.