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Buck, Wuebkers, Ringler win 3 top contests

By Natalie Walston

Four Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) contest winners will represent Ohio at American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) annual meeting at Salt Lake City next month. Leia Ringler of Mansfield will go as OFBF’s Discussion Meet winner; Sarah and Alan Wuebker of Versailles won the Young Farmer Award and John Buck of New Bloomington will represent the Buckeye state as an Excellence in Agriculture winner. Their selections were announced during the annual meeting kick-off at lunch.

The Young Farmer award recognizes achievements in the farming business and leadership in the agricultural community. The Excellence in Agriculture award recognizes participants who are involved in farming but whose primary occupation is not farming or owning an agricultural business.

The Discussion Meet contest tests participants’ subject knowledge, problem solving abilities and personal and small group communications skills. Ringler competed against three other finalists on the topic of "How can American agriculture increase the opportunities for new uses of agricultural products?"

Ringler farms with her husband, Aaron, feeding cattle and producing grain. She works off the farm in the family's plumbing, heating and electrical business. Ringler has been a Farm Bureau member for six years and currently serves as the Richland County Farm Bureau president.

Young Farmer winner Alan Wuebker farms full-time with his brother, raising corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, sows and dairy steers. They also have a custom baling business. His wife, Sarah is in her 12th year of teaching and is a high school intervention specialist.

The Wuebkers have been active with Darke County Farm Bureau, helping with membership and promoting several Farm Bureau activities. They are members of local and state pork, corn, soybean and wheat associations and are supporters of FFA.

Excellence in Agriculture winner John Buck owns and runs a diversified agricultural business operation, which includes livestock and cash grain enterprises and a repair shop for area farmers. He has been an active member of the Marion County Farm Bureau, serving as president, vice president and has been involved with the membership, young farmer and safety committee. He has been a state Discussion Meet finalist several years. Buck also has been active with FFA, 4-H and Ohio’s corn, soybean and wheat associations.

All four contest winners receive an expense paid trip to the AFBF annual meeting in Salt Lake City, where they will participate in national contests. They also won $500 from Dodge Trucks and a commemorative chime clock from OFBF.

In addition, Buck receives a $1,000 technology package from OFBF; the Wuebkers receive a $1,000 purchase certificate at Grainger Industrial Supply courtesy of Farm Credit Services of Mid America, a year’s free lease on a Kubota M-series tractor courtesy of Kubota and $500 worth of Syngenta products courtesy of Syngenta. Ringler receives an award of $1,000 from Nationwide Insurance.

Other finalists for the Discussion Meet were Buck, Pam Haley of Wayne County and Jared Myers of Mahoning. Also competing in the Outstanding Young Farmer contest were Damian and Wendy Chrisman of Jewett, Brandon and Julie Weber of Jackson and Howard and Tricia Withers of Petersburg. The other finalists in OFBF's Excellence in Agriculture award competition were Mark Barnes of New Paris, Shane and Melody Meldick of Oak Hill and Nanette "Gigi" Neal of Georgetown.

Caption: From left to right: John Buck, Leia Ringler and Alan and Sarah Wuebker will represent Ohio at AFBF's annual meeting in Salt Lake City.