Ron Mickelson named Farmer of the Year

The annual Mel Mello Farm Day Luncheon, featuring tables of locally grown produce, honored Half Moon Bay Nursery owner Ron Mickelsen as Farmer of the Year, reports the County Times.

Half Moon Bay Nursery owner Ron Mickelsen, 74, was the first flower farmer on the coast back in 1956. On Friday, he became the 37th Farmer of the Year award recipient since the Chamber of Commerce began holding the luncheon in 1969.

In that time, the number of Coastside farms still in operation has dwindled to the point where the Farm Day Committee recently made a decision to begin honoring fishermen and lumberyard owners as well as farmers, according to committee member and Half Moon Bay City Councilwoman Naomi Patridge.

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Other community service awards were presented to local developer Keet Nerhan and former City Councilman David Meir. The audience gave a standing ovation to a local veteran, retired U.S. Army Air Corps Capt. Ray Martini, who flew missions during World War II and was present on D-Day.