Last week’s coverage of National Ag Day celebrations included Farm Credit’s honoring 100 leaders shaping the future of American agriculture and bringing fresh perspectives to the greater community. Trevor Hoff of New Windsor, Md., well deserved to be one of the top 10 distinguished honorees – for reasons untold in the story of his accomplishments.

Related: Meet 4 Northeast ag leaders on Farm Credit's top 100 influencers list

Hoff, owner of Local Homestead Products retail store, claimed top honors in the Entrepreneurship and Innovation category. His entrepreneurial spirit carried him through high school and college, first developing a beef jerky business and attending food shows.

Trevor Hoff: a most amazing come-back award winner (2016)

The 25-year-old developed a local retail outlet for beef, cheese and produce, working with 20 farmer-suppliers. That accomplishment is all the more amazing in light of what happened to him in 2005.

Trevor’s miracle
Most American Agriculturist readers first learned about Trevor Hoff in September 2009’s cover story “Alive to tell”. On July 21, 2005, the 14-year-old was crushed to the concrete by a rolling tractor wheel – from hips to head. “I can still see the tractor going over my face and seeing it going on into the lot,” he recalled four years later.

Miraculously, he survived to be airlifted to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. After hours of surgery, he began a four-month recovery. Doctors warned he might not walk again. But Hoff beat the odds – for a reason.

Hoff (2009)

“I now know that I’m on this earth for a reason. Many people die from accidents like mine. My purpose,” he added, “is to help protect children and adults from accidents with my real-life story.” And Hoff eagerly became a nationwide safety advocate for Farm Safety 4 Just Kids.

For more on the incredible non-coincidences enabling Hoff to survive, click on Trevor’s miracle: Mom’s story.

For details on all 23 Northeast honorees, click on Farm Credits top 100 fresh perspectives honorees.