I’m looking for two great farmers to join an elite club that has no membership dues! And, it comes with great accolades.

Every year Ohio Farmer honors deserving farmers with the title of Master Farmer, but I need your help. Although I know several deserving farmers, this award calls on farmers, agribusiness professionals and others involved in the agricultural industry to nominate the “best of the best” for the Master Farmer awards, presented in January.

The Dec. 1 deadline is closing in, but there’s still time — and I want to hear from you.

2018 MASTER FARMER: Gary Shick farms a little more than 1,000 acres with his daughter, Molly, in Hardin County, Ohio. He was named a 2018 Master Farmer and presented with his plaque by Jennifer Kiel (left), editor of Ohio Farmer, while Nicole Heslip of Brownfield Ag News developed a video tribute played that morning. 

For a chance to join this prestigious group, please download and fill out (the best you can) the nomination form.

What’s most important are letters of support that outline a nominee’s superior management, innovation, conservation, leadership and community involvement.

Winners are chosen by a committee of agriculture industry leaders, and farm size is not one of the criteria. The award will be presented in March during the Conservation Tillage and Technology Conference at Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio.

2018 MASTER FARMER: Dale Profit was named a 2018 Ohio Master Farmer during the Ohio Conservation and No-Till Technology Conference March 6 in Ada, Ohio. He has been married to his wife, Judy, for 48 years.

Both farmers will be featured in the April issue of Ohio Farmer magazine, and tribute videos will be developed by Brownfield Ag News and be played during the awards luncheon. The winning farmers will receive a plaque from Ohio Farmer magazine, and this year, Carhartt is recognizing the honorees by donating jackets.

The award is named the same year that it’s given because it acknowledges a lifetime of achievement and not a single year.

Honorees demonstrate how to farm more effectively, efficiently, environmentally and economically.

Nominate a Master Farmer for this “gold standard” award by clicking on the gold “Download” button at the end of this story for an application. Don’t delay; the deadline is Dec. 1.