Canadian County’s Burton and Audrey Harmon were recognized with Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s YF&R Excellence in Agriculture Award Nov. 14 at the 63rd annual convention in Oklahoma City.
The award recognizes successful young people 35 or younger who are involved in farming but whose primary occupations are not farming or owning an agricultural business. The award is based on their involvement in agriculture and participation in Oklahoma Farm Bureau and other community organizations.
The Harmons, who reside at Yukon, have three children, Benjamin, 5; Aaron, 2; and Jared, 11 months. Burton manages a 1,100-acre cow-calf operation and Audrey is a part-time preschool teacher. They co-chair their county YF&R Committee and serve as secretary on the state YF&R Committee.
“With the cost of land and equipment being so high, many young people are scared away from agriculture. We personally have a 1,200-acre ranch that is in our family, but it is being leased out because we cannot afford to start our own operation,” they said.
“The agriculture industry must find a way for farmers and ranchers to be productive without being forced to live in debt. The agriculture industry must find ways to assist new farmers and ranchers.”
The Harmons are doing their part to educate themselves and others about agriculture. As co-chairmen of their county YF&R, they have organized food drives, attended legislative, resolution and board meetings, helped with Food Check-Out Day and been active in Ag in the Classroom.
On the state level, they have served on the YF&R Committee and represented it at 4-H and FFA functions as well as national conferences and conventions.
Their activities are not confined to Farm Bureau. Both are active in the Cattlemen’s Association and Mid Oklahoma Co-op as well as school and church organizations.
“The agriculture industry must educate leaders and the general public so they will support agriculture,” they said.
As the Oklahoma award winner, the Harmons will represent the Sooner State in the American Farm Bureau finals at the national convention in January 2005. In addition to the trip to Charlotte, N.C., they were awarded a four-wheeler ATV courtesy of Farm Credit and a $500 cash award from Dodge.
“We are looking for ways to increase our members and help them develop into leaders. We also want to increase the community’s awareness about our group and agriculture.”
