2022 Outstanding Young Farmer Contest applications due May 13
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.
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, 2023.
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
The award winner receives expense-paid trips to the Winter Leadership Experience and Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting, a media package and a $3,000 prize of choice. Prizes are courtesy of Farm Credit Mid-America, Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau. The winner also represents Ohio at the American Farm Bureau Annual Convention in Puerto Rico next January.
The top three finalists will receive an expense-paid trip to the Winter Leadership Experience and Ohio Farm Bureau soft shell jacket. Finalist prize packages are provided by Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association and Ohio Soybean Council.
Learning Sessions
This year, Ohio Farm Bureau will host several learning sessions where applicants can learn more about the application requirements, walk through challenging portions of the application, and review advice from former award winners. The virtual learning sessions begin at 7 p.m.:
Applications are due to Kelsey Turner, Ohio Farm Bureau leadership development program specialist, [email protected], no later than May 13, 2022 at noon.
Online Extra
Meet Kyle Stockton, the 2021 Outstanding Young Farmer.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Knowing that horticulture is under the agriculture umbrella and having Farm Bureau supporting horticulture like it does the rest of ag is very important.
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.
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.
Brandie Finney of Crawford County is the editor of the May 2023 Growing our Generation enewsletter, featuring insights and ideas directly from Ohio’s young farmers and food and agricultural professionals.
Hannah DiVencenzo of Lorain County is the editor of the April 2023 Growing our Generation enewsletter, featuring insights and ideas directly from Ohio’s young farmers and food and agricultural professionals.
The FUSION Conference is a national leadership conference that brings together volunteers in three program areas: Promotion & Education, Women’s Leadership and Young Farmers & Ranchers.
attendees were able to network with others around the state of Ohio as well as attend a variety of sessions that included business and production agriculture, niche marketing, and career/leadership development topics.