Wisconsin Farm Bureau Announces Excellence in Ag Finalists

One couple and three individuals have been selected as Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Excellence in Ag finalists and will compete in December for the top honor.

The Excellence in Ag award recognizes members of Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer and Agriculturist Program who excel in their leadership abilities, and involvement in agriculture, Farm Bureau and other civic and service organizations.

“Five outstanding agriculture advocates are finalists in this year’s state competition,” said Jim Holte, Wisconsin Farm Bureau President. “This contest highlights these individuals and how they have positively impacted Wisconsin agriculture and inspire others to do the same.”

The four finalists are: 

• Justin and Livia Doyle of Iowa County. Justin is a high school Agriculture/Technology Education Teacher in Darlington and Livia teaches fourth grade in Mineral Point. Together they co-own On Point Auction Service, LLC.
• Lynn Dickman of Waushara County. Lynn is a potato research agronomist for Heartland Farms.
• Kristi Fiedler of Shawano County. Kristi is the Vice President of Production for GENEX.
• Kelly Oudenhoven of Outagamie County. Kelly is a dairy herd manager at Larrand Dairy.

Excellence in Ag award applicants are agriculturists who have not derived a majority of their income from a farm (that they own) for the past three years. Examples of occupations of past finalists include: agricultural education instructor, fertilizer salesperson, veterinarian, farm employee, agricultural writer and marketer.

Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer and Agriculturist program is open to members between the ages of 18 and 35.

Each finalist must make a presentation and answer questions in front of a three-judge panel during the Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s 2017 Annual Meeting and Young Farmer and Agriculturist Conference at the Kalahari Resorts in Wisconsin Dells, December 1-3.

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation co-sponsors this contest with GROWMARK Inc. and Rural Mutual Insurance Company. Information and applications for all YFA contests can be downloaded from www.wfbf.com.

Last year’s Excellence in Ag award recipient was Teresa Marker from Barron County.