Lafayette County farmers Chad and Katrina Gleason were selected as the winners of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmer and Agriculturist Achievement Award at the organization’s 98th annual meeting on Dec. 3.

The Gleasons live near Shullsburg and are fourth-generation farmers. They have three children: Cassidy, Gage and Kinsey.

They specialize in dairy beef, raising bottle-fed calves into finished steers. The Gleasons raise about 400 calves per year from local dairy farms and grow their own feed on 80 owned acres and 60 rented acres.

Chad enjoys farm-related activities and spending time with others who share his passion for agriculture. Katrina home-schools their children and does the books for the farm. She enjoys caring for the family’s horses, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.

WFBF’s Young Farmer and Agriculturist Achievement Award is given to farmers between the ages of 18 and 35 who have excelled in their farming career, understand current issues affecting agriculture, and have shown leadership and involvement in Farm Bureau and other civic organizations.

The Gleasons will compete at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2018 Annual Convention in Nashville, Tenn. In addition, Rural Mutual Insurance Co. will provide them with a free financial plan, and Fabick Cat Inc. will award them with 40 hours’ use of a Fabick skid-steer loader. The Gleasons will also be invited to the Growmark Inc. annual meeting in August.

Source: Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation