LIHUE — Kiara Ruiz said she plans on studying business to raise her family farm to the next level Sunday during the Kauai County Farm Bureau annual meeting at Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall. Ruiz was one of five recipients
LIHUE — Kiara Ruiz said she plans on studying business to raise her family farm to the next level Sunday during the Kauai County Farm Bureau annual meeting at Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall.
Ruiz was one of five recipients of scholarships from the farm bureau to students studying agriculture and related fields. Other recipients included Mehealani Ho‘okano, who received the Hawaii Tropical Flowers and Foliage Association’s scholarship, Bronwyn Kay, who plans on studying agriculture to help in her advocacy against invasive species.
Marissa Goo, a graduate of Kapaa High School, and Lyndsey Haraguchi-Nakayama, were both recipients of the Farm Family scholarships.
Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr. was joined by Kauai Council Chair Mel Rapozo and Councilmember Derek Kawakami, and Brian Miyamoto, the Hawaii Farm Bureau executive director, in presenting the scholarships.
Carvalho also officiated in the swearing-in of new Kauai County Farm Bureau officers and directors, who were voted in by over 100 people who attended the annual meeting.
Johnny Gordines was elected president, replacing Laurie Ho, who was voted to serve as secretary. Sherwood Conant was voted vice president, and Ryan Oyama repeats as the organization’s treasurer. Directors include Roy Oyama, Rodney Haraguchi, Sandi Kato Klutke and Jerry Ornellas.
“I’m thinking of taking vacation so I can spend more time helping at the Kauai County Farm Bureau Fair,” Miyamoto said. “I’ve been to the Kauai fair at least 10 times, and it is a great event. I want to bring more of our HFB staff to help, and stay for a couple of days to do anything from taking tickets, to whatever,” Miyamoto said.
”Kauai County Farm Bureau has been excellent in providing support to our state fair, including KK (Sandi Kato Klutke) coming over for the past several fairs and sitting at the Hawaii Farm Bureau information table. I can’t believe the fair is right around the corner, starting August 24.”
Keep Growing and Farm on Kauai is the theme of this year’s four-day event at Vidinha Stadium.
