The Farm Bureau Excellence in Agriculture Award Program is designed as an opportunity for Young Farmers & Ranchers, while actively contributing and growing through their involvement in Farm Bureau and agriculture, to earn recognition.  Participants will be judged on their involvement in agriculture, leadership ability, involvement and participation in Farm Bureau and other organizations (i.e., civic, service and community).  

Information about the Excellence in Agriculture applicant is requested on the entry form.

Brian and Carrie Dalton
of Lexington, South Carolina
2007 American Farm Bureau
YF&R Excellence in Agriculture Winners
As national winners the Daltons received a new Dodge truck!

Eligibility:

·      Members in good standing with their county Farm Bureau.

·      An applicant can be either an individual or a married couple.  If married, husband and wife may apply as individuals or as co-applicants.

·      Applicant(s) must be a Farm Bureau member or Farm Bureau member family.

·      Contestants shall be Farm Bureau members between the ages of 18 and 35 years of age.  Individual or spouse shall not have reached their 36th birthday by January 31st after the SCFB Annual Convention at which the contest is held.

·      Past and present members of the AFBF Young Farmer & Rancher Committee or their spouses are not eligible to compete.

·      Past state YF&R Excellence in Agriculture Award winners, and/or previous AFBF Excellence in Agriculture Award competitors are not eligible to compete.

·      Past state Achievement Award winners, and/or previous AFBF Achievement Award competitors are not eligible to compete.

·      County, State and American Farm Bureau employees are not eligible.

·      If chosen as the state winner, the contestant must be willing to represent SCFB at the AFBF competition during January 2008 or forfeit their title as state winner and cash award to the first runner-up.

·      Individuals may compete in either the Achievement Award or Excellence in Agriculture Award Program contest, but not both in the same year.

·      A contestant may enter both the Excellence in Agriculture Award and Discussion Meet Award in the same year however; they are not allowed to win both contests in the same year.

·      Applicants must have derived a majority of their income from a non-production agribusiness enterprise for the  past three years. For example: ag teacher, fertilizer salesman, ag marketing, ag writer, farm employee (non-owner).

·      Applications are due August 10, 2007.

Judging Criteria:
The applications will be judged by one set of judges, and the presentations by a different set of judges. The top three state winners will be selected from the written applications as our state finalists. The finalists will then be required to present an oral presentation during the SCFB Annual Meeting in Myrtle Beach on Friday, December 1. The application and presentation scores of the three finalists will be combined and the highest total score will determine the state winner.

 

Presentation Format:

Each of the three state finalists will be required to give  an oral presentation to a panel of judges in front of an audience on Friday, November 30, during the SCFB Annual Meeting In Myrtle Beach.

The presentation will be an interactive interview in which the contestant(s) has an opportunity to share the contents of their application in a narration format. 

The only visual means in which to deliver the presentation is through a PowerPoint presentation.

All necessary presentation equipment will be provided for the contestant(s).

The presentation will be given to a panel of three judges. The guidelines for the presentation are as follows:

·     Introduction and presentation - (maximum of 12 slides*) 15 minutes on the issues addressed in the application as well as past and present accomplishments and future goals.
* moving bullet point into the slides is permitted and will not be counted as an additional slide.

·      Question and answer session - 5 minutes (time card will be displayed at 10 minutes)

·      Verbal and PowerPoint references to your name, state and county will be allowed during presentations.

·      Dress should be business attire.

·      No props allowed.

·      No sound allowed in the PowerPoint presentation.

Prizes:

·      State Winner - $1500 cash award, and an expense paid trip to the AFBF Annual Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana during January 2008.

·      All three state finalists will receive one free-night stay at Myrtle Beach during the SCFB Annual Meeting.

·      The finalists will receive $500.

·      All applicants will receive a free registration to the 2008 SCFB YF&R Conference that is being held during February 2008.

To download an application, click here.

To receive a copy of the application by mail or by fax, please contact your county Farm Bureau office or Faith Lawrimore.  

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