Nebraska Farm Bureau held its 100th annual convention in Kearney in December. At the annual convention, several young farmers and ranchers were honored with awards and will be going on to the 2018 American Farm Bureau Convention in Nashville, Tenn., where they will compete at the national level.

Ryan and Lindsey Ueberrhein of Elkhorn were honored as Nebraska Farm Bureau's 2017 Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement in Agriculture winners.

The Ueberrheins were selected on the basis of performance in farm or ranch management, setting and achieving goals, overcoming obstacles, and service to the community and Farm Bureau.

Ryan and Lindsey raise corn and soybeans near Valley, where Ryan grew up. Ryan also helps his dad John with his greenhouse business, State Street Greenhouse, where Ryan helps selling flowers from the greenhouse at a farmer's market in Omaha. Ryan graduated with an associate’s in applied science in fire protection technology from Southeast Community College in 2010. Lindsey earned her cosmetology license from the Capitol School of Hairstyling in 2005 and works full time as a self-employed hairstylist in Omaha.

The Ueberrheins balance their schedules with farm life, volunteer activities and Nebraska Farm Bureau.

In 2017, things changed dramatically for the Ueberrheins. Ryan's mom, Karen, passed away and his dad turned a majority of the day-to-day farming operation over to Ryan and his younger brother, Jason. A neighboring farmer retired, allowing Ryan to add about 500 acres to the current operation.

York family honored for excellence
Jason and Karah Perdue of York were named recipients of the 2017 Young Farmers and Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture Award. The Perdues were recognized for their ongoing involvement and commitment to agriculture.

Both Jason and Karah attended Northwest Missouri State University. Jason received a bachelor degree in agriculture business and finance. Karah received a bachelor’s in ag business and animal science. They married after college and have four children, Annah, 8, Lane, 7, Bennett, 4 and Jase, 2.

Jason works for a family-owned ag retail company as branded products territory manager, helping salespeople across four states work with customers to find products to bring growers the best solutions for their farms.

While a stay-at-home mom, Karah is responsible for taking care of the day-to-day activities for the Perdues' contract poultry operation. She is also an instructor for water aerobics and various other fitness classes.

Nebraska Farm Bureau has been a big part of their lives as at-large members of the State Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee. They also have served in various positions on their local York County Farm Bureau board. Most recently, Jason has served as president and Karah as secretary-treasurer.

Broken Bow farmer wins Discussion Meet
Lindsey Stern of Broken Bow, a Custer County Farm Bureau member, was named the winner of the 2017 Young Farmers and Ranchers Discussion Meet competition.

Stern received the top score of the contestants who advanced to the final round of the Discussion Meet contest. Rather than debating, contestants work to develop a solution to a problem being discussed, building on each other's contributions.

Competitors in the annual contest must be prepared to speak on any number of agriculture-related topics; the selected question is announced a short time prior to the contest round.

Stern works at Nebraska State Bank. Her husband, Jacob, owns and operates Broken Bow Dairy in Custer County, where they are Farm Bureau members. They also own two small businesses, Stern Housing LLC and Open Gates Trucking LLC, to aid with their growing dairy operation.

Source: Nebraska Farm Bureau