Daniel LaBrie, a 1967 graduate of Fort Kent State College, will be presented with the 2012 Outstanding Alumni award.

Daniel LaBrie was raised on a farm in St. Agatha, Maine, the only boy in a family of seven. He graduated from St. Agatha (now Wisdom) High School in 1963 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree from Fort Kent State College in 1967.

Danny was hired to teach science and math at Wisdom High School in St. Agatha from 1967-70, where he became a well-respected teacher. In 1970, he was awarded a year of study at the National Science Foundation Academic Year Institute at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. He graduated in 1971 with a Master of Arts degree from Fisk University.

Danny then returned to Wisdom High and continued teaching from 1971-1974. During his career in teaching he was actively involved in the SAD #33 Teachers' Association, as well as the Maine Teachers' Association.

Throughout his teaching career Danny helped his father, Louis, on the farm and in 1974 he decided to go into farming full time with his Dad. When Louis retired in 1980, Danny continued farming with his wife, Roberta, until their two older sons, Keith and Duane, joined the farming operation after completing their college educations. Danny and Roberta's youngest son, Aaron, is a mechanical engineer in Oregon.

In 2001 the family formed LaBrie Farms, LLC. Danny continued farming until 2007. Although he is officially retired, Danny, and Roberta, continue to work for their sons in the farming operation. They also enjoy spending time in Florida during the winter months.

Danny always has been very active in all aspects of farming and is a respected leader in the industry. He served on numerous agriculturally related boards including the Agricultural Bargaining Council; Farm Credit Service; Maine Potato Growers; Maine Potato Quality Control Board; and the St. John Valley Soil & Water Conservation Board. He also served on several national boards, including the National Potato Council, on which he was a member of its U.S./Canada Trade Committee.

Danny has served on local boards, such as selectmen for the Town of St. Agatha for 21 years; director of the St. Agatha Federal Credit Union for more than 18 years; and served on the St. Agatha Church Parish Council for numerous years. Presently, he serves as a director of the UMFK Foundation, and is a Eucharistic minister and lector at Our Lady of the Valley church in St. Agatha.

Over the years Danny has received many awards. He was named Maine Farmer of the Year in 1988; in 1992 the LaBries were named the Maine Farm Family of the Year; in 1982 he received the Outstanding Farmer Award from the Aroostook County Extension Association; McCain Foods named him its Top Grower of the Year in 1977; and in 2000, he received the Environmental Stewardship Award from the National Potato Council.

Danny LaBrie has been married to his wife, the former Roberta Hebert, for 46 years. They have three sons and daughters-in-law: Keith and Josie; Duane and Janice; and Aaron and Tionna. They also are the proud grandparents of seven grandchildren: Sylvia, Kyle, Jacob, Gavin, Carson, Paige and Danae.