Weaver wins 2023 Outstanding Young Farmer award
Brad Weaver of Wyandot County is a sixth generation farmer from Upper Sandusky. His family raises wheat, corn, and soybeans as cash crops and uses a wide variety of cover crops on their farm.
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2023 Outstanding Young Farmer contest applications due Dec. 30
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, 2024.
- 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 Salt Lake City, Utah in January 2024.
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.
Apply
Applications are due to Kelsey Turner, Ohio Farm Bureau leadership development program specialist, [email protected], no later than May 13, 2022 at noon.
American Farm Bureau is hosting a competition training webinar Sept. 29.
Online Extra
Meet John Hummel, the 2022 Outstanding Young Farmer.
I'm eternally grateful for the support Ohio Farm Bureau scholarships provided in helping me turn my dreams into reality.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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