Public voting for the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance third class of Faces of Farming and Ranching, a nationwide search to put real faces on agriculture, begins today and continues through Oct. 23.

The following farmers and ranchers are finalists:  

-Lauren Arbogast, Va.
-Emily Buck, Ohio
-Katie Roth, Wis.
-Lauren Schwab, Ohio
-Jeremy Brown, Texas
-Paul Lanoue, Minn.
-Geoff Ruth, Neb.
-Joy Widerman, Pa.

Vote through Oct. 23 on your favorite farmer or rancher.

Visit USFRA's Facebook Page to learn more about each of the finalists and the work they do, including short videos highlighting their farm or ranch. From there, vote for the farmer or rancher who you believe best represent the passion and innovation behind today's agriculture. The Facebook voting through ShortStack will appear as a tab on USFRA's Facebook page (it's one vote per 24 hours). These votes will be factored into the final decision to determine the next Faces of Farming and Ranching, which will be announced on Nov. 9, 2016, at a National Association of Farm Broadcasters press conference in Kansas City, Missouri.

Applications were received from farmers and ranchers from across the nation.

"Farmers and ranchers care immensely about their animals, the environment, and their customers, and we need to share their stories in order to protect many of the tools and technologies that agriculture utilizes today," said Nancy Kavazanjian, USFRA chairwoman. "These incredible finalists make it their highest priority to provide a nutritious and sustainable food supply, which is the story we intend to share with today's consumer through this program."

For more information on the Faces of Farming & Ranching program, visit http://www.fooddialogues.com/Faces

Source: USFRA