Young Farmers & Ranchers Award Winners

IMG_4432Collegiate discussion meet winner – University of Tennessee student Amy Morgan was the 2016 Collegiate Discussion Meet winner during this year’s YF&R summer conference. The runner-up was Chelsea Sanders of TN Tech. A representative from each of the agricultural colleges, MTSU, UT Martin, UT and TTU competed. This contest is designed to simulate a committee meeting where discussion and active participation are expected from each college-age participant.

National discussion meet runner up – Matt Niswander of Lawrence County was the 2017 National Discussion Meet Winner. He won the state competition in December and went on to win it all at the American Farm Bureau Convention in January. As national winner, Matt received his choice of a 2017 Chevy Silverado or a 2017 GMC Sierra courtesy of Chevrolet. The state winner receives $1000 from Tennessee Farm Bureau, a lawn mower and an all-expenses paid trip to the American Farm Bureau Convention, the AFBF YF&R Leaders Conference and all TN YF&R Conferences.

Excellence in Ag – The Excellence in Agriculture contest is a great opportunity for agriculturists to showcase their farming operation, agriculture and Farm Bureau leadership activities through an application and presentation. Anthony and Caroline Shelton of Washington County competed in the American Farm Bureau Excellence in Ag contest during the annual meeting in January. The Sheltons received a John Deere Gator donated by Farm Credit and an all expense paid trip to the American Farm Bureau Annual Meeting for being named the state winners.

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Young Farmer Environmental Stewardship state winner – Kary Robinson from Franklin County was named this year’s state winner of the Environmental Stewardship Award. The state winner, in addition to the $400 they received as a district winner, receives a $1000 from TN Farm Bureau, an all-expenses paid trip to the American Farm Bureau YF&R Leaders Conference and all TN YF&R Conferences.

IMG_4140Young Farmer state runner-up – Dyer County’s Rusty and Christi Grills were named this year’s runner-up in the state competition for the Outstanding Young Farmer Achievement contest. The runner-up receives up to $500 in qualified Farm Bureau services, $1000 cash from TN Farm Bureau, an all expense-paid trip to the American Farm Bureau Convention and trips to all TN YF&R Conferences.

Young Farmer national runners up – Weakley County’s Jay and Alice Ann Yeargin were named this year’s national runners up in the national competition for the Outstanding Young Farmer Achievement contest. The Yeargins received a Case IH Farmall tractor and $3,000 in cash and STIHL merchandise as national runners up. As state winners they received a year’s free use of a brand new Case/IH tractor up to 150 hours, $500 from Tennessee Farm Bureau, a fully loaded RTV to keep from Tennessee Farm Bureau, an insurance policy to cover the tractor for one year from Farm Bureau Insurance of Tennessee and a trip to the American Farm Bureau Convention.