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Growing our Generation enewsletter features insights and ideas directly from Ohio’s young farmers and food and agricultural professionals. Sign up to get this e-letter sent directly to your inbox once a month.

In January 2026, three Ohio contest winners will head to the West Coast to compete in the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Discussion Meet, Excellence in Agriculture and Outstanding Young Farmer award competitions at the AFBF Annual Convention in Anaheim, California. 

Dr. Kameron Rinehart, Discussion Meet Winner

Dr. Kameron Rinehart from Fayette County will be competing in the Discussion Meet that simulates a committee meeting where discussion and active participation are expected from each participant. Participants build basic discussion skills, a keen understanding of agricultural issues, and explore how groups can come together to form solutions. 

Describe your role in agriculture and your Farm Bureau involvement 

I am a past Fayette County Farm Bureau president and a past Young Agricultural Professionals State Committee co-chair. Currently, I am a member of the Ohio 4-H Foundation Board of Trustees and serve on The Ohio State University’s Agricultural Communications, Extension, and Community Leadership Alumni board. I am also the co-owner and co-founder of Rural Beans Roastery, LLC, a small batch coffee roastery in Jeffersonville, Ohio. In my full-time profession, I am assistant professor of leadership at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee.

What does it mean to you to receive this award? 

To be the 2025 Ohio Farm Bureau Discussion Meet winner is an honor and something I am very proud of. I am grateful to represent young agricultural professionals in this capacity and participate in a competition that addresses critical issues faced by young farmers and the broader agricultural and natural resources industry. These issues are the forefront of significant challenges we face in our industry, and we must all work together to solve these challenges. The Discussion Meet competition is an excellent example of how we can do that together through grassroots efforts. 

Will Minshall, Outstanding Young Farmer Award Winner

Will Minshall of Pickaway County will be competing in the Achievement Award that focuses on helping young farmers strengthen their business skills, develop marketing opportunities and receive recognition for their accomplishments.   

Describe your role in agriculture and your Farm Bureau involvement 

I raise corn, soybeans and wheat with my family in Pickaway, Ross and Hocking counties. I also run a cow-calf operation that specializes in freezer beef and direct to consumer retail cuts.I have been active in my county Farm Bureau for the past few years. From attending Ag Day at the Capital to being a voting delegate at the state annual meeting, I have been able to be on the front line helping shape policies and leveraging trends to benefit not only farmers but the entire agriculture industry.  

What does it mean to you to receive this award? 

Winning this award was quite possibly the most humbling event in my life. I hope that it is an encouragement to the young farmers that are working hard, building their brand and growing their operation behind the scenes to keep moving forward and growing. This award has given me the mental boost to keep going, even when I thought I was at a standstill.

Derek Snider, Excellence in Agriculture Award Winner

Derek Snider from Hardin County will be competing in the Excellence in Agriculture competition that focuses on individuals or couples who do not have a majority of their gross income subject to normal production risk. 

Describe your role in agriculture and your Farm Bureau involvement 

I am a fifth-generation farmer and owner/operator of DuLynn Farms, LLC with my parents. We raise corn, soybeans, wheat and hay using no-till farming practices. The farm also has a 40-head cow-calf beef herd, raising heifers as replacements and steers that are sold as freezer beef at the local stockyard. I am a senior account officer at AgCredit at the Kenton branch, serving members to help them with their personal and operational financial needs. 

What does it mean to you to receive this award? 

Being the 2025 Ohio Farm Bureau Excellence in Agriculture award winner is a huge honor and accomplishment. With this award, I am able to represent not only my family farming operation but also the vital role my off-the-farm job plays in my overall success by showing that the two are super important and complimentary of each other. As many other young agricultural professionals depend on an off-the-farm job to make their agricultural dream a reality, I understand the balance it takes to make everything work. Being a full-time lender and part-time farmer, I am able to represent myself as well as others on a similar path not only in my community but on a national stage through my involvement within the Ohio Farm Bureau.

Consider the 2026 contests

If you have an interest in honing your leadership skills among the best agriculturalists in the country, you should consider applying for the Ohio Farm Bureau Young Agricultural competitive contests! The Discussion Meet contest applications are due Oct. 1, and the Excellence in Agriculture and Outstanding Young Farmer applications are due Dec. 1. 

Upcoming Events and Deadlines

• 2026 Winter Leadership Experience Social Media Ambassador applications are due Sept. 30. 

• YAP Discussion Meet contest applications are due Oct. 1. 

• American Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Leadership Conference (Portland, Oregon, March 13-16, 2026) scholarship applications are due Dec 1.
• YAP Excellence in Agriculture contest applications are due Dec. 1. 
• YAP Outstanding Young Farmer contest applications are due Dec. 1.
• 2026 Winter Leadership Experience early-bird registration ends Dec. 17; registration closes Jan. 7.

This e-newsletter is brought to you by Ohio Farm Bureau’s Young Ag Professionals. Learn more about Farm Bureau membership, including a discounted category for those 18-24 years old.