Ohio Outstanding Young Farmer winners

The Outstanding Young Farmer Contest is designed to help young farmers strengthen their business skills, develop marketing opportunities and receive recognition for their accomplishments. Contestants are judged on the growth of their farm businesses and involvement in Farm Bureau and their community.

Representing the best of Ohio young farmers

The ideal candidate for this award is an individual or couple involved in production agriculture with a majority of his/her net income subject to normal production risks.

Eligibility

  • An applicant can be either an individual, a married couple or couple who has similar legal rights under the law applicable to Ohio. Applicant may choose to apply individually, rather than as a couple.
  • Applicant must be actively engaged in farming, with the majority of his/her net income coming from production agriculture. Applicant must have at least three years of financial records showing the majority of income came from production agriculture. 
  • Must be an active/voting member of a county Farm Bureau.
  • Must be 18-35 years of age prior to Jan. 31, 2022.
  • Previous state winners and current Young Agricultural Professionals State Committee members are ineligible.
  • Past and present members of the American Farm Bureau YF&R Committee may not apply.

Prizes

Prizes include expense-paid trips to the Winter Leadership Experience and Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting, representing Ohio at the American Farm Bureau Annual Convention in Atlanta in January, a media package and a $3000 prize of choice. There are prizes for runners up as well. Prizes are courtesy of Farm Credit Mid-America, Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau.

Apply

Applications are due to Kelsey Turner, Ohio Farm Bureau leadership development program specialist, [email protected], no later than June 11, 2021 at noon.

A training call will be held April 21 for anyone interested in applying for the Outstanding Young Farmer Award. This call will help prepare you for the competition. Join us to hear a few tips and tricks for the competition as well as learn from the 2020 Award Winners, Nathan and Lynn Steiner. Register

Online Extra

Meet Nathan and Lynn Steiner, the 2020 Outstanding Young Farmers.

Photo caption: Previous winners the Steiners, Matt Vodraska, Christian Hoffman and Craig Pohlman

 

The plan we are on is great. It’s comparable to my previous job's plan, and we are a sole proprietor.
Kevin Holy's avatar
Kevin Holy

Geauga County Farm Bureau

Ohio Farm Bureau Health Benefits Plan
To grow a network and gain perspective and knowledge in the industry through personal and professional development has been invaluable. Every day I learn and grow.
Ryanna Tietje's avatar
Ryanna Tietje

Henry County Farm Bureau

Farm Bureau connections
The issue of property taxation remains as one of the biggest challenges our members face today. Ensuring agricultural property is valued for its agricultural potential and not development is critical to the continued success of Ohio agriculture.
Matt Aultman's avatar
Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Giving farmers a voice
Farm Bureau is what really got the word out. It’s been one of their goals to get this done.
Bill and Charlotte Wachtman's avatar
Bill and Charlotte Wachtman

Henry County

10-year campaign for safer roads
I could not have done it without the resources I have found through Farm Bureau.
Gretchan Francis's avatar
Gretchan Francis

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Bringing the farm back to life
Because we are younger farmers just starting out, Farm Bureau has a lot of good opportunities and resources to help us grow in the future.
Hannah Kiser's avatar
Hannah Kiser

Sandusky County Farm Bureau

Farm Bureau involvement
Through the Select Partner program, we became educated in farm insurance and weren't just selling policies. It became more and more clear why farmers need an advocate like Ohio Farm Bureau.
Chad Ruhl's avatar
Chad Ruhl

Farm manager, CSI Insurance

Select Partner Program
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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