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June 1, 2001

Young producers take aim
at three TFB contests

Texas Farm Bureau is offering three great contests—three great opportunities—in 2001 for young agriculturalists to gain recognition for their contributions to the industry and win some great prizes: Outstanding Young Farmer & Rancher Contest, Discussion Meet Contest and Excellence in Agriculture Award.

"Eligibility requirements are the same for all three contests," said Si Cook, TFB organization programs director. "The applicant must be a member of Texas Farm Bureau, in good standing; involved in production agriculture; and must have reached his or her 36th birthday before Jan. 31, 2002. Individuals may compete in either the Outstanding Young Farmer & Rancher Award or Excellence in Agriculture Award, but not both. Entry forms are available at county FB offices or can be downloaded from our website."

Outstanding YF&R

The premier competition, the Outstanding YF&R Contest, identifies, recognizes and rewards exceptional young agricultural producers from across the state. Through an application process, producers are asked to detail their agricultural operations, leadership activities, goals and plans for the future. District winners are chosen from each of 13 Farm Bureau districts. These 13 are then judged again to determine three finalists. An on-farm visit is then scheduled on the farm/ranch of each of the finalists, with a different set of judges used at each level of the process.

This year, each district winner receives a custom belt buckle and $50 cash award, courtesy of Am-Pac. The two runners-up and their spouses in the state competition receive the following: 1) Transportation, two nights' lodging and meals to the Texas Farm Bureau state convention in Waco, Dec. 2-5, 2001; 2) Complimentary use of a 2002 Dodge Quad Cab pickup from December 2001 through November 2002, courtesy of Dodge; 3) Plaque and belt buckle representative of the award, courtesy of Am-Pac; and 4) $200 gift certificate to Grainger Industrial Supply, courtesy of Grainger.

The state winner and spouse receives: 1) Transportation, two nights' lodging and meals to the TFB state convention in Waco, Dec. 2-5, 2001; 2) Title to a 2002 Dodge Ram 3/4 ton 4x4 Quad Cab pickup with a Cummins diesel engine, courtesy of SFB Casualty Insurance Company; 3) 150 hours use of a Case IH tractor (winner selects from a 40 PTO horsepower up to 155 PTO horsepower tractor two-wheel drive or MFD front wheel drive assist), courtesy of Case IH; 4) Plaque and belt buckle representative of the award, courtesy of Am-Pac; 5) $500 cash award, courtesy of Dodge trucks; 6) $300 gift certificate to Grainger Industrial Supply, courtesy of Grainger; and 7) an expense-paid trip to the national competition for a chance to win a 2002 Dodge Ram 3500 Quad Cab 4x4 SLT pickup with a 5.9L 24-valve Cummins diesel engine.

"The size of your operation doesn't matter as much as what you've done with it since you started. The prizes are lucrative, the experience is great, so please consider filling out an application," said Cook, noting that the entry deadline is Sept. 7, 2001.

2001 Discussion Meet

The Discussion Meet Contest provides an opportunity for young producers to discuss issues of importance to agriculture.

"This contest is not unlike the discussions that take place every morning at the coffee shop, feed store, co-op or grain elevator, when farmers and ranchers meet—but the rewards are much greater. The Discussion meet is simply the presentation of well thought-out opinions and ideas for the purpose of collective problem- solving," Cook explained.

Four agricultural-related topics are selected prior to the Discussion Meet. Contestants are provided with information about these topics weeks or even months (depending on when you send in an entry form) before the contest. The contest is conducted in panels of four or five.

"One of the four topics is chosen for each panel and a 25-minute round-table discussion is instigated. The contest is not a debate or a prepared speech. It is simply an exchange of ideas and opinions and an opportunity for contestants to develop their presentation and problem-solving skills," said Cook.

Each entrant in the contest receives a $100 gift certificate to Grainger Industrial Supply, and the three finalists each receive a $200 Grainger gift certificate, courtesy of Grainger. The state winner receives: 1) one year's use of a Kubota M Series tractor (45-65 horsepower) with a front-end loader, 2-wheel or front-wheel assist, courtesy of Kubota; 2) an Arctic Cat 500 4x4, courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Life; 3) $500 cash award from Dodge; 4) a $300 gift certificate to Grainger Industrial Supply, courtesy of Grainger; 5) a plaque representative of the award; and 6) an expense-paid trip to Reno, Nev. in January 2002 to compete in the national contest.

Deadline for entry is Nov. 1, 2001.

Excellence in Agriculture

The Farm Bureau Excellence in Agriculture Award program gives young farmers and ranchers who do not currently own their own operation, but are actively contributing and growing through their involvement in Farm Bureau and agriculture, an opportunity to earn recognition. Participants are judged on their involvement in agriculture/agribusiness. Leadership ability, involvement and participation in Farm Bureau and other organizations (i.e. civic, service and community) will also be a major factor considered in judging. (See sidebar for specifics).

Finalists in all three contests will be the guests of Texas Farm Bureau at the organization's annual meeting in Waco, December 2-5, where the final round of the Discussion Meet and award ceremonies for all contests occur. Winner of the Outstanding YF&R and Discussion Meet competitions advance to the national finals, to be held in Reno, Nev. in January 2002.

For more details, contact Si Cook, P.O. Box 2689, Waco, TX 76702, phone 254-751-2286, e-mail scook@tfb-waco.org or visit the Texas Farm Bureau website: www.txfb.org.

TFB unveils new
agriculture award program

Texas Farm Bureau is pleased to unveil a new awards program that recognizes the achievements of a vital segment of agriculture—individuals who are engaged in the farming or ranching industry, but do not make the majority of their living from an operation they own.

"The Excellence in Agriculture Award Program is designed for persons who are actively contributing and growing through their involvement in Farm Bureau and in agriculture/agribusiness," Si Cook, TFB organization programs director, explained. "Examples of eligible applicants would be farm store managers, ranch/farm managers or persons who are employed by an agricultural business."

Cook said the award was created in order to esteem those individuals and activities that lend valuable support to agriculture as a whole.

Each person entering the 2001 Excellence in Agriculture Award contest receives a $100 gift certificate to Grainger Industrial Supply, and the two runners-up each receive a $200 Grainger gift certificate. The State winner receives one year's use of a 2002 Dodge Quad Cab pickup, courtesy of Dodge.

Eligibility requires that the individual be a member of Texas Farm Bureau in good standing. Applicants may be an individual or a married couple. Contestants shall not have reached their 36th birthday before Jan. 31, 2002. Past of present members of the American Farm Bureau Federation's Young Farmer and Rancher Committee are not eligible to compete. County, state and AFBF employees are ineligible. Contestants may not derive their primary source of income from being an owner/operator of an agricultural operation. Individuals may compete in either the Outstanding Young Farmer & Rancher Contest, or Excellence in Agriculture Award, but not both.

All entry forms are to be mailed directly to Waco and must be in the Texas Farm Bureau state office on or before Sept. 7, 2001. Each application receives an identifiying code upon arrival in order to conceal the person's identity during preliminary judging.

"Every precaution should be taken not to mention the applicant's name or any county identification in the application. All information contained in the form is strictly confidential and all forms are returned to the applicants after the selection process has been completed," said Cook.

A panel of independent judges will select the top three applicants from entries. A separate set of judges will then interview each of the three by telephone and select the winner.

"The three finalists will have their expenses paid to attend the awards ceremony conducted at Texas Farm Bureau's Annual meeting on Tuesday, December 4. The winner and two runners-up will be announced at the awards ceremony," Cook said.