Ten finalists will vie for the Wisconsin Farm Bureau's Achievement Award this December.
"This year's crop of finalists represents the best and brightest young farmers in Wisconsin," said the Wisconsin Farm Bureau's spokesman, Casey Langan.
The Achievement Award is open to Farm Bureau members between the ages of 18 and 35, who have excelled in their production farming operation, understand current issues affecting agriculture, and show leadership and involvement in Farm Bureau and their local community.
This year's finalists include:
Andy and Angie Baumann (Edgar), Marathon County
James Bays II (Adams), Adams County
Ryan and Cheri Klussendorf (Medford), Taylor County
Corey and Miranda Leis (Cashton), Monroe County
Brian Maliszewski (Independence), Trempealeau County
Jeffrey McNeely, (Brooklyn), Green County
Peter Muth (Fredonia), Washington County
Jay and Angela Schultz (Shawano), Shawano County
Ryan and Amanda Staidl (Peshtigo), Marinette County
Joe Wollinger (Markesan), Green Lake County
Each participant must fill out a long-form application by October. A three-judge panel will score those applications and conduct an interview with the 10 finalists at the Farm Bureau's 2011 Young Farmer and Agriculturist Conference/Annual Meeting at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells, Dec. 2-5.
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation co-sponsors these contests with GROWMARK Inc. and the Rural Mutual Insurance Company. Information and applications for the contests can be downloaded from the Wisconsin Farm Bureau's website, www.wfbf.com .
The winners of this state contest will compete at the American Farm Bureau annual meeting in Hawaii, Jan. 7-10. They will also receive a $250 gift card from GROWMARK, Inc. and will be guests at its annual meeting in Chicago next summer. FABCO Equipment Inc. provides 40 hours use of a FABCO 226 skid-steer loader, and Rural Mutual Insurance provides a free financial plan. The winner will also have the opportunity to take part in the WFBF Young Farmer and Agriculturist trip to Washington D.C. in April.
Last year's winners of the Achievement Award were Nathan and Karen Kling, dairy farmers from Jackson County.
Source: Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation