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Texas Agriculture Archive

November 15, 2002

The Pick of the Crop:
Who Will Win?

Three young agricultural producers—one from Central Texas, one from Southeast Texas, and one from West Texas—have been named finalists in Texas Farm Bureau's 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 Corpus Christi, Dec. 10. Profiles are on Pages 6-8.

The three young producers—Korvan Kreusler of New Braunfels, Stephen Gertson of East Bernard, and Donnell Brown of Throckmorton—were chosen from an outstanding field of applicants from across Texas.

Kreusler, 31, runs a corn, sorghum, wheat, cow/calf and sheep and goat operation with his wife, Jill, in Comal County.

Gertson, 35, runs a rice and cattle operation in Wharton County. He and his wife, Kathy, have three children.

Brown, 33, runs a cattle operation in Throckmorton County. He and his wife, Kelli, have two children.

The state winner and his spouse will receive the following prizes: transportation, two nights lodging and meals to the Texas Farm Bureau Convention in Corpus Christi; title to a 2003 Dodge Ram 3/4 ton 4x4 Quad Cab pickup with a Cummins diesel engine, courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Co.); 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; plaque and belt buckle representative of award, courtesy of Am-Pac; $500 cash award, courtesy of Dodge Trucks; a voucher for up to $500 in Syngenta products, courtesy of Syngenta; and a $300 gift certificate to Grainger Industrial Supply, courtesy of Grainger.

The state winner and spouse will represent Texas in the American
Farm Bureau Achievement Award competition in Tampa, Fla.

Runners-up and their spouses will receive the following prizes: transportation, two nights lodging and meals to the Texas Farm Bureau Convention in Corpus Christi, Dec. 8-11, 2002; complimentary use of a 2003 Dodge Quad Cab pickup from December 2002 through November 2003, courtesy of Dodge; plaque and belt buckle representative of award, courtesy of Am-Pac; and a $200 gift certificate to Grainger Industrial Supply, courtesy of Grainger.