November 17, 2000

Three Finalists, One Will Win

Three young agricultural producers—one from the Panhandle, one from the Rolling Plains and one from Central Texas—have been named as finalists in the Texas Farm Bureau Outstanding Young Farmer & Rancher Contest.

The annual award, presented by the state's largest farm organization, honors the young leaders of agriculture and recognizes the hard work and determination needed to succeed when starting out in the challenging business of agriculture. The winner will be named at the Texas Farm Bureau State Convention in Arlington on Nov. 28.

The three, Ray Chisum of Jayton, Andrew Gee of Hereford, and Kevin Huffman of McGregor (see profiles, pages 12-14), were chosen from an outstanding field of applicants from across the state.

Chisum, 33, runs a wheat, cotton, grain sorghum and cattle operation in Stonewall-Kent counties. He and his wife, Carla, have three children.

Gee, 29, raises corn, cotton, wheat, milo and stocker cattle in Deaf Smith County. He and his wife, Kimberly, have two children.

Huffman, 32, runs a corn, wheat, sorghum, soybean, cotton and cattle operation in Coryell and McLennan counties. He and his wife, Sheryl, have two children.

The state winner and his spouse will receive the following prizes: title to a 2001 Dodge Ram 3/4-ton Quad Cab pickup with a Cummins diesel engine, courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Company; 150 hours use of a Case tractor, courtesy of Case-IH; a plaque and belt buckle, courtesy of TASCO; a $500 cash award, courtesy of Dodge Trucks; and transportation, two nights lodging and meals to the Texas Farm Bureau Convention in Arlington, Nov. 25-28.

In addition, the state winner will travel to Orlando, Fla., in January to compete in the American Farm Bureau Federation Achievement Award competition.

Runners-up and their wives will receive the following prizes: complimentary use of a 2001 Dodge Quad Cab pickup for one year, courtesy of Dodge Trucks; a plaque and belt buckle representative of the award; and transportation, two nights lodging and meals to the Texas Farm Bureau convention.

A $100 gift certificate from Grainger Industrial Supply, courtesy of Grainger, was awarded to each applicant in the contest.