Escobars’ Highland Farm in Portsmouth has been named Rhode Island’s 2001 Outstanding Dairy Farm of the Year by the Rhode Island Green Pastures Committee. Winning dairy farmers from each New England state will be honored at an awards banquet Sept. 14 at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Mass. Highland Farm, owned by Louie and Jane Escobar, was started by Louie Escobar’s father in 1937. Louie helped with farm chores as a youngster and continued working the farm until he took over in 1972. Over the years, the farm has grown from 52 acres to 96 acres, with 70 milking cows and 50 heifers and an excellent forage program consisting of high quality corn and hay. The farm, run in an environmentally sound manner using best management practices, is surrounded by suburban homes and appreciative neighbors. It is one of 23 dairy farms remaining in the state. The committee chose the Escobars’ farm because of its outstanding relationship with the community, its use of good management practices and its commitment to the viability of agriculture on Aquidneck Island.