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The Ohio Farm Bureau’s Young Agricultural Professionals Committee recently announced the winners of the 2026 YAP competitions at the Winter Leadership Experience held at Cherry Valley Hotel in Newark, Ohio.
Lincoln Deitrick of Muskingum County was named the Outstanding Young Farmer Award winner, Denver Davis of Auglaize County won the Excellence in Agriculture Award and Margaret Houts of Mercer County earned the title of 2026 Discussion Meet winner.
Outstanding Young Farmer Award: Lincoln Deitrick, Muskingum County
Deitrick operates a diversified farming business that includes row crops, a commercial cattle feedlot, seasonal hog finishing and a self-serve meat trailer that offers direct-to-consumer beef, pork and eggs. He also maintains a Registered Angus cow-calf herd in partnership with his family. He grew up showing Registered Angus cattle and continues to be involved with Muskingum County Farm Bureau while working alongside his local soil & water office to help implement conservation and environmental stewardship practices throughout the county.
The Outstanding Young Farmer Award competition is designed to help young farmers strengthen their business skills, develop marketing opportunities and receive recognition for their accomplishments.
Excellence in Agriculture Award: Denver Davis, Auglaize County
A sixth-generation farmer and agribusiness owner, Davis operates a diversified farm while also running a cover-crop seed cleaning business and a family-owned crop insurance agency. With a focus on conservation practices and agricultural policy, Davis has held numerous on-farm roundtables, tours for elected officials, farm-to-table dinners, and participated in numerous Ohio Farm Bureau advocacy events. He also serves as treasurer for Auglaize County Farm Bureau.
The Excellence in Agriculture Award competition gives young agricultural professionals who do not derive the majority of their income from farm production an opportunity to earn recognition for their contributions to the agriculture industry, while actively contributing and growing through their involvement in Farm Bureau and agriculture.
Discussion Meet: Margaret Houts, Mercer County
Houts is an English teacher at Parkway High School and grew up on a multi-generational grain and livestock farm in Mercer County. She grew up participating in 4-H and FFA, and now serves on the Mercer County Farm Bureau, volunteers with numerous community events and extracurricular school programs and remains involved on the family farm.
The Discussion Meet tests participants’ subject knowledge, problem-solving abilities and personal and small group communication skills. It is designed for young agricultural professionals to work together to find solutions around issues facing agriculture today.
Each of the winners received a $3,000 cash prize, an expense-paid trip to the 2026 Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting and an expense-paid trip to the 2027 American Farm Bureau Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, to represent Ohio in their respective national competitions. The prize packages are sponsored by Nationwide and Farm Credit Mid-America.
The Ohio Farm Bureau Young Agricultural Professionals program provides leadership development and professional growth opportunities for Farm Bureau members ages 18-35. The program hosts the Winter Leadership Experience, a Washington, D.C., Leadership Experience and conducts the Outstanding Young Farmer, Excellence in Agriculture and Discussion Meet contests. Learn more about the program at experienceyap.com.
Ohio Farm Bureau’s mission is working together for Ohio farmers to advance agriculture and strengthen our communities. Learn more at ohiofarmbureau.org.
This is a news release for use by journalists. Questions should be directed to Ryan Matthews, 614-246-8210 or [email protected].
Editors: A high-resolution photo of the 2026 YAP competition winners is available for download. Caption: From left are 2026 YAP award winners Denver Davis, Margaret Houts and Lincoln Deitrick with Ohio Farm Bureau President Bill Patterson.
My first recommendation in your journey is to start out with a local farming friend or mentor along with joining an organization like Ohio Farm Bureau.
We’re just so thankful for the Farm Bureau and the foundation for helping put this together. And of course, the Boyert family for the vision they had with this grant. It’s jumping us forward 10 years. It’s unbelievable.
I could not have done it without the resources I have found through Farm Bureau.
It wasn’t until I joined the Wilmington College Collegiate Farm Bureau that I truly saw how my passion could translate into leadership, advocacy and a career.
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.
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.
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