Brand-New Truck, John Deere ‘Gator’ and More Await YF&R Winners

By Neil Melancon, FB News Staff Writer

A brand-new Chevy or GMC vehicle and a John Deere Gator utility vehicle are among the many prizes that await the winners of this year’s Young Farmers and Ranchers contest at the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Convention in New Orleans.

The organization will name its Young Farmers and Ranchers contest winners Thursday, June 23 at the Organizational Awards program beginning at 5:30 p.m.  The Achievement Award, Discussion Meet and Excellence in Agriculture winners will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the American Farm Bureau Convention in Phoenix, Arizona, January 8-11, 2017.

The Achievement Award is presented to a young farm or ranch couple for their efforts in production agriculture and leadership achievement.  The statewide competition is sponsored by the Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee.

A variety of outstanding prizes will be presented to the Achievement Award winner, including a $40,000 voucher for a Chevrolet or GMC vehicle, compliments of Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company; a $250 Visa gift card from Conquest Completion Services; a $1,500 equipment rental from H&E Equipment Services; a $250 Sears gift card from Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance Companies; and a $250 Choice Hotels gift card from LFBF.

The Discussion Meet is designed to encourage young farmers to analyze agricultural issues and decide on solutions to problems facing agriculture. The winner of the Discussion Meet will receive a John Deere 4x2 Gator utility vehicle, courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company; a $1,500 equipment rental from H&E Equipment Services; $750 from Gowan Company; $500 from Syngenta; a $250 Visa gift card, courtesy of Conquest Completion Services; a $250 Sears gift card from Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance Companies; and a $250 Choice Hotels gift card from LFBF.

The 2016 YF&R Excellence in Agriculture Award honors those who actively contribute and grow through their involvement in Farm Bureau, but do not make a full-time living in production agriculture.  The Excellence in Agriculture prize package includes a $5,000 credit toward the purchase of a 4-wheel ATV, courtesy of Louisiana Land Bank; a $1,500 equipment rental from H&E Equipment Services; a $250 Visa gift card from Conquest Completion Services; a $250 Sears gift card from Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance Companies; and a $250 Choice Hotels gift card from LFBF.

Louisiana’s Outstanding Young Farm Woman Award is designed to recognize young farm women for outstanding achievement in production agriculture.  The winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmer and Rancher Leadership Conference in 2017; a $2,000 Visa gift card from Louisiana Farm Bureau Mutual Casualty Company; a $1,500 equipment rental from H&E Equipment Services; a $500 cash award from BASF; a $250 Visa gift card from Conquest Completion Services; a $250 Sears gift card from Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance Companies; and a $250 Choice Hotels gift card from LFBF.

Louisiana’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award, Excellence in Agriculture and Discussion Meet winners will be recognized on a national level in January 2017 as they compete against other state winners at the American Farm Bureau’s annual convention. The national winners of these contests will have their choice of a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado or GMC Sierra pickup, valued at $35,000.  Three finalists in the Achievement Award, Discussion Meet and Excellence in Agriculture contests will receive a Farmall Tractor from Case IH along with a $2,500 cash prize from STIHL.

  All prize packages for the Louisiana Farm Bureau Convention are based on 2015 winners and all American Farm Bureau prizes are based on 2016 winners. All prizes are subject to change, based on sponsor availability.