Oklahoma Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers recognize members each year for their achievements through several awards, and applications for these awards are now open.
The YF&R committee is opening applications for the YF&R Achievement Award, YF&R Excellence in Agriculture Award and the YF&R Discussion Meet. This year, the committee will select two winners for both award areas in 2023 – one to compete at the 2024 American Farm Bureau Convention and one to compete at the 2025 American Farm Bureau Convention – to give the state winners ample time to prepare for the AFBF award competitions.
Applications for the 2024 competition year are due July 14 and applicants will compete during the 2023 YF&R Summer Conference July 28-30 in Oklahoma City. Applications for the 2025 competition year are due October 10 and applicants will compete during the 2023 OKFB Annual Meeting Nov. 10-12 in Oklahoma City.
YF&R Achievement Award
The YF&R Achievement Award is presented to OKFB’s top young farmer and rancher and is based on his or her efforts in production agriculture and leadership achievement.
Applicants must be Farm Bureau members between the ages of 18 and 35 who are actively engaged in production agriculture and receive a majority of his or her income from production agriculture.
The winners will be announced at the OKFB Annual Meeting on Saturday, Nov. 11 in Oklahoma City. The Achievement Award winner will receive a prize package and a trip to the 2024 or 2025 AFBF Annual Meeting in January to compete on the national level.
YF&R Excellence in Agriculture Award
The Excellence in Agriculture Award recognizes YF&R members who are actively engaged in agriculture but have not received a majority of their income from production agriculture in the past three years. Applicants are evaluated on their knowledge of agricultural issues, leadership experiences and achievements, and their ability to communicate their agriculture story.
Applicants must be Farm Bureau members between the ages of 18 and 35 who have not derived a majority of his or her income from production agriculture in the past three years.
The Excellence in Agriculture Award also will be presented at the OKFB Annual Meeting in November. The winner will receive a prize package and a trip to the 2024 or 2025 AFBF Annual Meeting in January.
YF&R Discussion Meet
The discussion meet is designed to replicate a committee meeting in which all participants are expected to discuss and actively contribute. Participants are evaluated on an exchange of ideas and information on a pre-determined topic in three rounds of debate-style discussion. Participants are judged on their ability to offer constructive criticism, cooperation and communication while analyzing agricultural problems and developing solutions.
The discussion meet winner will be announced at the OKFB Annual Meeting in November. A prize package and a trip to the 2024 or 2025 AFBF Annual Meeting will be presented to the winners.
For more information about awards program and new process, contact OKFB Assistant Director of Public Policy and YF&R Coordinator Zac Swartz at (405) 523-2300.
