Ag News
Young Farmers & Ranchers represent Georgia well in AFBF Competitions
Posted on Jan 21, 2020 at 19:00 PM
Georgia Farm Bureau had a good showing in the Young Farmers & Ranchers contests at the 2020 AFBF convention.
Colquitt County Farm Bureau members Preston and Kendall Jimmerson were named to the top 10 in the AFBF YF&R Achievement contest, which recognizes young farmers and ranchers who earn the majority of their income from farming. Judges interviewed each of the top 10 competitors and considered their written applications. The Jimmersons raise 1,600 acres of cotton, 475 acres of peanuts and 200 acres of corn. They also double-crop spring and fall cabbage on about 180 acres.
Morgan County Farm Bureau members Jason and Rachel Kinsaul placed in the top 10 of the AFBF YF&R Excellence in Agriculture event. This competition recognizes young agriculturalists who work in the ag sector and earn the majority of their income from something other than farming. Rachel is an ag teacher/ FFA advisor at Morgan County High School. Jason is an ag lender for Rabo Agrifinance working with clients across the Southeast. For their event, the couple delivered a PowerPoint presentation describing their advocacy work for agriculture, their efforts to recruit and help young farmers through their jobs and their Farm Bureau activities.
Morgan County Farm Bureau member Kaitlyn Marchant talked her way into the third of four rounds of competition in the AFBF YF&R Discussion Meet. The discussion meet simulates a committee meeting in which participants are evaluated on their ability to exchange ideas and information on predetermined topics. During her three rounds of competition, Marchant discussed how new food technology can be integrated into the market place without hampering the success of traditional products; how Farm Bureau can work collaboratively to combat the opioid crisis and mental health issues in rural America; and how agriculture can creatively and legally address its labor shortage. Marchant is an ag education teacher/FFA advisor at Morgan County High School. She grew up on a beef farm in Jeff Davis County.
The national winners of the YFR contests were: Achievement Award – Braden and Jordan McInnis of Texas; Excellence in Agriculture – Kirby Green of Kentucky; and Discussion Meet – Sarah Rudolph of Virginia.
During the opening general session of the national convention, GFB was recognized as an Awards of Excellence state for demonstrating outstanding achievements in all four member program areas recognized - advocacy; engagement/outreach; leadership/business development; and membership value.
Smurf, the cattle collie owned by Morgan County Farm Bureau members Zach and Sydney Floyd, was one of four runners-up in the 2020 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year contest. He’ll receive $1,000, a trophy plate and Purina products. Flint, an Australian shepherd owned by Utah Farm Bureau members Rhett and Beth Crandall won the contest.
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