The new year has begun with the wonderful return of spring! In recognition of the farmers and Farmers Association staff that helped out with a variety of experiments and research last year, the Taitung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station of the Executive Yuan’s Council of Agriculture (TTDARES) held a 2015 Regional Excellent Farmers and Farmers Association Officials Award Ceremony and a 2015 National Top Ten Outstanding Farmers Award Ceremony on the morning of March 2 in the second floor meeting room of the TTDARES regional education center. TTDARES staff and all others present were excited with the start of a new year and offered best wishes to each other.

Director Chen of the TTDARES started the event by thanking everyone for all the help they provided regarding various projects over the past year. Such assistance allowed for various agricultural experiments/research, lectures, trainings, and promotional events to be carried out smoothly.

In celebrating the beginning of this new year, Zhuang Zheng-xiong (who was named one of 2015 National Top Ten Outstanding Farmers) and 11 farmers/Farmers Association staff members (who were recognized as offering outstanding assistance to the TTDARES with various experiments, research, and promotions during 2014) were invited to the event to receive plaques and medals as tokens of appreciation.

At the end of the event, besides once again expressing the most sincere gratitude and congratulations to the award recipients, Director Chen encouraged the TTDARES staff to continue their diligence with a positive attitude of service toward farmers while working hard on the research, development, and promotion of new plant varieties and new technology so as to accomplish a lot this year. He then wished everyone a wonderful and peaceful Year of the Goat.