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First double winner, and first Excellence in Agriculture winners selected in Cincinnati

by Joe Cornely

The winners in this year’s Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) young farmer contests are, in a word, unique. Among the top selections are small mushroom growers, a nonfarmer, and the first-ever double winner.

Tom and Wendy Wiandt of Wayne County are the winners of the Outstanding Young Farm Couple contest. Kevin Thierry of Henry County is the winner of both the Outstanding Young Farmer and Discussion Meet contests, the first time one person has been named winner of two contests in the same year. Jason Gentry of Fayette County is the winner of OFBF’s first ever Excellence in Agriculture contest.(See the Discussion Meet story on page 2 for more information about this contest.)

The Wiandts, Thierry and Gentry were recognized during the OFBF annual meeting in Cincinnati. They’ll be representing Ohio at the AFBF convention next month in Tampa, Fla.

The Young Farm Couple and Young Farmer awards recognize members age 35 or younger for their achievements in the farming business and their leadership in the agricultural community. The Excellence in Agriculture award recognizes successful members age 35 or younger who are involved in farming but whose primary occupation is not farming or owning an agricultural business. The award is based on their involvement in agriculture and participation in Farm Bureau and other community organizations.

The Wiandts, who represented OFBF’s Pioneer Area, grow gourmet mushrooms and have developed relationships with chefs who like to purchase fresh, locally grown specialty items. They left previous careers and are now able to farm full time. According to Tom, "It’s fascinating to us that the Ohio Farm Bureau is ready to embrace the small farmers like us. But (niche farming) is a rapidly expanding part of agriculture." Wendy encourages other young couples to participate in the OFBF competition. "It’s a neat process to go through, and it’s great to meet other young people who have successful farms."

Thierry farms with his parents and raises corn, soybeans and wheat and produces market hogs. He represented the Buckeye Area. Thierry says his heavy involvement in Farm Bureau allows him the opportunity to influence the factors that impact him and his fellow farmers. "One of the biggest complaints among farmers is having no say in things that affect your farm. And through Farm Bureau, I get the opportunity to go to the state house, to Washington, DC. You get to make a real impact through Farm Bureau on your own business. Not everybody gets to do that type of personal lobbying, and it’s very rewarding. You get to have a say."

Gentry, from the River Valley Area, is a grain buyer for Sabina Farmers Exchange. He credits his wife, Whitney (Fogle), for encouraging his involvement in Farm Bureau. She is a former organization director. And he’s pleased that more young people are getting involved with the organization. "Within Farm Bureau, there’s a lot of exciting things happening, and it’s an important part of agriculture in Ohio," Gentry said. As for being involved in agriculture, Gentry said, "You have to love what you’re doing, and I enjoy the people I work with and the business I’m in."

The Wiandts received $500 from Dodge Trucks, an expense paid trip to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) annual meeting in Tampa, a year’s lease on a Kubota M-series tractor, $500 in product from Syngenta, a chime clock and a one-year subscription to DTN FarmDayta Marketing Service courtesy of Farm Credit Services of Mid America.

As Young Farmer winner Thierry receives a $500 from Dodge, a one-year subscription to DTN FarmDayta courtesy of Farm Credit Services of Mid America and a chime clock.

Gentry received $500 from Dodge Trucks, an expense paid trip to the American Farm Bureau Tampa meeting, a chime clock and a $1,000 technology package sponsored by OFBF.

Other finalists recognized during the OFBF annual meeting were Outstanding Young Farm Couples Clark and Angie Emmons of Fulton County (Buckeye Area) and Jeff and Dena Wuebker of Darke County (River Valley Area); Young Farmers Tim Eppley of Muskingum County (Pioneer Area) and Robert King of Brown County (River Valley Area); and Excellence in Agriculture finalists Philipp Altstaetter of Shelby County (Buckeye Area) and Don and Amy Jones of Harrison County (Pioneer Area). The three other state finalists in the Discussion Meet were Angie Emmons of Fulton County, Amanda Miller of Tuscarawas County and Doug Hafer of Marion County.