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The Outstanding Young Farmer award 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.

The ideal candidate(s) is an individual or couple ages 24-34 who are involved in production agriculture with a majority of his/her gross income subject to farm and/or ranch risks.

To participate in this award contest, Young Ag Professionals must complete an online application detailing their goals, leadership involvement, farm management strategy, and financial overview of their operation(s). Applications will be reviewed in early January and finalist interviews will take place in person 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.

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 be in attendance on-site at the Ohio Farm Bureau Young Agricultural Professionals Winter Leadership Experience, Feb. 7-8, 2025 to compete.
• Applicant(s) must be actively engaged in farming and/or ranching, with the majority of his/her gross income coming from production agriculture. Applicant(s) must have at least three years of financial records showing that the majority of income came from production agriculture.
• 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.

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.

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

For questions about the contest, email [email protected]

Photo caption: 2024 Outstanding Young Farmer Catherine Wolcott, Geauga County