Catherine L. Damren

MAAF Awards

Catherine L. Damren

Distinguished Service Award

The Catherine L. Damren Award is given to a person in the Maine agricultural community who has gone above and beyond in support and promotion of Maine's agricultural fairs.

2024 Catherine L. Damren Award

Hope Ricker - Pittston Fair

Hope Ricker was raised in a farming family and grew up helping her cousins show their Ayrshire cattle at the local fairs. She truly enjoyed being at Maine fairs as a child. As an adult, she became more involved with her local fair and the world of draft horses, eventually becoming the secretary of the Farmers Draft Horse, Mule and Pony Club. Outside of her hometown fair, Hope became the manager of the draft horse and steer shows at Topsham, Skowhegan, Windsor, Fryeburg and Litchfield fairs.

In 2006 Hope was elected to the MAAF board of directors and rose quickly through the organization. She was elected MAAF president serving from 2012-2014 and worked tirelessly with Roger Hoffses and Katie Damren to grow the MAAF Scholarship program. Hope has also traveled to represent Maine and participate in several IAFE conventions. Hope currently serves as the president of the MAAF Foundation, which has taken on the responsibilities of the MAAF scholarship program. The Foundation provides educational opportunities to Maine fair youth and Maine agricultural fairs. Hope was inducted into the Skowhegan Fair Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2016.

Congratulations to Hope Ricker, 2024 recipient of the Catherine L. Damren Distinguished Service Award.

Previous Recipients

Award Information

This award is presented at the annual convention in January. The previous receipents meet to discuss who they would like to receive this award each year.

Award History

Catharine L. Damren, legislative liaison for MAAF, has worked tirelessly for Maine’s agricultural fairs for years. Her presence in the hallways of the Maine legislature was always warmly received, as she was an unwavering spokesperson for Maine fairs.

The MAAF mission includes the words “inform the public, influence the politicians and promote agricultural education to the country’s youth.” Katie has spent countless hours on behalf of Maine farmers and fairs from Presque Isle to Acton, Ossipee to Blue Hill. This award, the Catharine L. Damren Distinguished Service Award, will be presented annually to a Mainer who offers to all of us involved in agriculture the same distinguished service that we have come to receive from Katie.