The 2006 Andrew L. Felker Award for significant contributions to the health and vitality of New Hampshire agriculture was presented to Carl Schmidt of Orford on February 4^th at the Farm and Forest Expo in Manchester. "Carl Schmidt embodies the spirit of Andrew L. Felker in effectively developing and building support for public policy that improves the environment of New Hampshire and the lives of its people," said Steve Taylor, Commissioner of Agriculture, Markets & Food. The Felker award is named for New Hampshire's first commissioner of agriculture; his vision and dedication shaped the body of laws and programs that still affects farmers and consumers today.

Foreign service officer, historian and public citizen, Carl Schmidt has become New Hampshire's leading figure in efforts to preserve and protect the state's dwindling inventory of traditional agricultural buildings. As a charter member and now the chairman of the state Barn Committee, he has been at the center of initiatives to provide tax stabilization agreements for important historic barns and for strengthening the state Division of Historical Resources ability to support preservation activities.

Carl accepts any invitation to speak to community officials, regional planning groups, conservation organizations and service clubs about the need for preservation of our rural architectural heritage and he effectively advocates to decision makers the economic and aesthetic values that flow from protecting the built environment of rural New Hampshire.

He has documented the design and history of many barns and other buildings, including a project with the Orford School and Historical Society that cataloged 230 historic local structures. He was involved in the establishment of the "Moose Plate" program which has funded an array of conservation and cultural programs around the state, and he has been active in the work of the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance.