Farm Credit Salutes Excellence in Ag Winners

NRExcellenceInAg.jpgFarm Credit Services is one of the sponsors of the Farm Bureau Federation's Excellence in Agriculture competition, an award that recognzies successful young people 35 or younger who are involved in farming, but whose primary occupations are not farming. The award is based on ag involvement as well as participation in Farm Bureau and other community organizations.  FCS currently sponsors the award in Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee.  Winners receive a John Deere Gator from Farm Credit.

This year's Tennessee winners - John and Mary Margaret Chester - were recognized at the national winners of Farm Bureau's Excellence in Ag during the convention in New Orleans.  Congratulations to the Chesters on such a significant accomplishment! 

We also tip our hats to Dave and Kelly Ferguson for receiving the national Achievement Award and Don Shoemarker for receiving the national Discussion Meet Award.  Both are from Indiana, making all three major Young Farmer and Rancher national award winners from the Farm Credit Services of Mid-America territory!

Farm Credit Services provides John Deere Gators to the winners of the Excellence in Ag Competition in Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee.  Here's a bit more about this year's winners.

John and Mary Margaret Chester of Wheatley County, Tennessee own C&T Balers, a custom hay operation, and have a 30 cow beef herd.  Additionally, John is the full time farm manager for Fowler Farms. The Chesters won the national award during the annual convention in New Orleans!

Kirby Hancock is a vocational agriculture teacher at Adair County High School in Kentucky. He serves as an FFA advisor and is coach of the Adair County High School Soil Judging Team.  He was recognized in March of 2007 by the Adair County Extension Service at its leadership banquet as one of five outstanding leaders in the Adair County farm community.

Cheryl and Joe Caffee of Berne, Indiana raise hay and produce custom fed, all natural, high-end freezer beef, feeding only feedstuffs raised by their family.  Joe also helps his father in his row crop operation where they raise corn, soybeans and winter wheat.  Joe works for a bank and Cheryl is a part time oncology nurse at Adams Memorial Hospital.  Their daughters are Grace (age 5) and Jessa (age 3). 

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