Sara Tallmadge

The Young Ag Professionals Excellence in Agriculture Award competition gives young farmers and ranchers an opportunity to earn recognition, while actively contributing and growing through their involvement in Farm Bureau and agriculture. The ideal candidate for the Excellence in Agriculture Award is an individual or couple age 24-34 who does not have the majority of his/her gross income subject to normal production risk. 

Competitors must complete the online application, and after the judges’ evaluation in early January, the top three finalists will be invited to participate in a 25-minute presentation on-site at the Young Ag Professionals Winter Leadership Experience, Feb. 7-8, 2025 in Sandusky, Ohio.

Deadline to apply: Dec. 20, 2024 at 5 p.m.

 

Apply

Eligibility
  • Applicant(s) should be a voting Farm Bureau member(s) between the ages of 18 and 35 in good standing with his/her county Farm Bureau. The individual or spouse/spousal-equivalent should reach his/her 18th birthday at the time he/she qualifies for the state competition and should not reach his/her 36th birthday by the completion of the national competition. Competitors qualify at the time the state application is submitted and the completion of the national competition is the day awards are given out (Monday, Jan. 12, 2026).
  • Applicant(s) must not have derived a majority of his/her gross income from an owned production agriculture enterprise in any of the past three years.
  • Applicant(s) may only compete in one state YAP competition per year.
  • The YAP State Committee Class of 2025 that is retiring is eligible to apply.
  • Members of the Ohio Farm Bureau Board of Trustees are eligible to apply for this award.

Ineligibile: Current employees or agents of county, state, and/or the American Farm Bureau organizations and their affiliates are not eligible to compete. An affiliate is defined as an entity owned or controlled in whole or in part by another entity through, for example, ownership (including partial ownership) or positions on the board of directors. Past employees and interns who were responsible for implementing any of the YF&R competitive events at the state or national level are ineligible. Past and present members of the AFBF YF&R Committee may not apply. Previous AFBF Excellence in Agriculture Award competitors are not eligible to compete.

Prizes

Thanks to the support of Nationwide and Farm Credit Mid-America, the award winner receives a complimentary trip to the American Farm Bureau Convention to compete at the national level, an all inclusive trip to the YAP Winter Leadership Experience and a $3,000 Invest in YOU prize.

Thanks to the generosity of Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association and Ohio Soybean Council, finalists for the award receive an Ohio Farm Bureau jacket and complimentary registration to the YAP Winter Leadership Experience.

Apply

Deadline to apply: Dec. 20, 2024, at 5 p.m.

Questions about the contest may be sent to [email protected]

Photo caption: 2024 Excellence in Agriculture winner Sara Tallmadge from Ashland County.

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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