Christina O’Brien has been an outstanding advocate for agriculture and now she is being recognized for her efforts.  The Agriculture Council of America (ACA) is awarding her the Charles Eastin Award for 2016.  This award is for an individual who works to accurately communicate between rural and urban audiences.  She will be honored at a Celebration of Agriculture Dinner at the USDA on National Ag Day, March 15, 2016.

O’Brien has been a 4-H leader where she organized “Science-sational day” to educate kids grades 1-3.  In 2014 she held a workshop to make healthy dog biscuits and connected the ingredients to the farm.  On her own farm, Norz Hill, she has hosted teaching days to educate children on the care of livestock.  She serves as a junior advisor to the New Jersey Holstein Association and works with that organization to plan competitions like quiz bowl, speeches, and trifolds/research.

In addition to working with many oranziations O’Brien has also initiated a lease program through the Garden State Sheep Breeders and leases her own sheep to four inner city girls.  She also planned an event at a local YMCA that featured agriculture education and information about a well-balanced diet.

National Ag Day was founded in 1973 by the Agriculture Council of America.  Their mission is to increase the public’s awareness of agriculture in modern society.