Applications for Ohio Farm Bureau’s Young Ag Professionals’ Outstanding Young Farmer and Excellence in Agriculture contests are available and due July 28, 2017.

The Outstanding Young Farmer contest is designed to recognize successful young farmers, age 35 or younger, for achievements in the business of farming and leadership in the agricultural community. Applicants should have a majority of their income subject to normal production risks as well as ownership (or part ownership) of the operation/business. The top three applicants will have an interview with a panel of three judges Sept. 8. The winner is recognized at the Ohio Farm Bureau annual meeting in December and will compete in the national contest. Last year’s winner was Craig Pohlman from Van Wert County.

If you work off the farm and are a leader in Farm Bureau and the community, then the Excellence in Agriculture contest is for you. This award is designed to recognize successful young agricultural professionals (singles or couples) who are actively contributing and growing through their involvement with Farm Bureau and agriculture but do not have the majority of his or her income subject to normal production risk. The top three applicants will have a 25-minute presentation before a panel of judges Sept. 8. The statewide winner will be recognized at the Ohio Farm Bureau annual meeting in December and also will go on to compete in the national contest. Last year’s winners were Aaron and Sarah Heilers from Shelby County.

Applicants for both contests must be Farm Bureau members between the ages of 18 and 35 in good standing with their county Farm Bureau. The individual or spouse should have reached their 18th birthday at the time they qualify for the national competition and should not have reached their 36th birthday by Jan. 31, 2018.

Prize packages for the winners

  • Outstanding Young Farmer
    • $1,000 Grainger Gift Card – sponsored by Farm Credit Mid-America
    • 250 Hours use of Kubota M-Series Tractor
  • Excellence in Agriculture
    • John Deere Gator-  sponsored by Farm Credit Mid-America
    • $1,000 cash prize – sponsored by Ohio Farm Bureau and Nationwide

The winners of each contest will also receive an expense-paid trip to Nashville to compete in their respective national contest during the American Farm Bureau Annual Convention in January 2018.

Download the Outstanding Young Farmer application and Excellence in Ag application.

Learn more about Ohio Young Ag Professionals.

Watch videos of past winners.

Ohio Farm Bureau membership

Labor has always been an issue, mainly because we are a seasonal operation. So that's a challenge finding somebody who only wants to work three months out of a year, sometimes up to six months.
Mandy Way's avatar
Mandy Way

Way Farms

Farm Labor Resources
I appreciate the benefit of having a strong voice in my corner. The extras that are included in membership are wonderful, but I'm a member because of the positive impact to my local and state agricultural communities.
Ernie Welch's avatar
Ernie Welch

Van Wert County Farm Bureau

Strong communities
I see the value and need to be engaged in the community I live in, to be a part of the decision-making process and to volunteer with organizations that help make our community better.
Matt Aultman's avatar
Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Leadership development
Farm Bureau involvement has taught me how to grow my professional and leadership experience outside of the workforce and how to do that in a community-centric way.
Jaclyn De Candio's avatar
Jaclyn De Candio

Clark County Farm Bureau

Young Ag Professionals program
With not growing up on a farm, I’d say I was a late bloomer to agriculture. I feel so fortunate that I found the agriculture industry. There are so many opportunities for growth.
Jenna Gregorich's avatar
Jenna Gregorich

Coshocton County Farm Bureau

Growing our Generation
Knowing that horticulture is under the agriculture umbrella and having Farm Bureau supporting horticulture like it does the rest of ag is very important.
Jared Hughes's avatar
Jared Hughes

Groovy Plants Ranch

Groovy Plants Ranch
If it wasn't for Farm Bureau, I personally, along with many others, would not have had the opportunity to meet with our representatives face to face in Washington.
Austin Heil's avatar
Austin Heil

Hardin County Farm Bureau

Washington, D.C. Leadership Experience
So many of the issues that OFBF and its members are advocating for are important to all Ohioans. I look at OFBF as an agricultural watchdog advocating for farmers and rural communities across Ohio.
Mary Smallsreed's avatar
Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Advocacy
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