FCS Salutes Tennessee Young Farmers

January 21, 2009 - Last month, FCS congratulated the recipients of Farm Bureau's Excellence in Agriculture Competition in our four state territory of Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee (FCS is one of the sponsors of this competition - see story on the right). Today, we are pleased to announce that one of the state recipients - the Strassers of Chapel Hill, Tennessee - won the National Excellence in Agriculture competition during the 90th Annual American Farm Bureau Convention in San Antonio, Texas earlier this month!

We're also very proud to announce that Donald and Alicia Blankenship of Rutherford County, Tennessee won the National Achievement Competition during the same convention. This award recognizes young farmers and ranchers who have excelled in their farming or ranching operations and exhibited superior leadership abilities. Participants are evaluated on a combination of their agricultural operation's growth and financial progress, Farm Bureau leadership and leadership outside of Farm Bureau.  Donald recently became a member of this association's Board of Directors and we applaud his efforts.

Both the Strassers and the Blankenships competed against all 50 other states to be announced as the national winners in their respective competitions.  More information on these two awards and their recipients can be found on the Tennessee Farm Bureau's website - tnfarmbureau.org.

 

FCS supports Farm Bureau’s Excellence in Ag

Louisville, KY, December 17, 2008 –  In celebration of the talent and achievements of young farmers, Farm Credit Services of Mid-America (FCS) is one of the sponsors of the Farm Bureau Federation’s Excellence in Agriculture program.   Winners throughout the association’s four-state territory of Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee, receive a John Deere Gator compliments of the ag lending cooperative.

The following were named as their state’s winners at the recent Farm Bureau Conventions. They will go on to compete for the national award in San Antonio, Texas next month:

  • Dan and Cara June Strasser of Chapel Hill, Tennessee,
  • Katy Endsley of Pickerington, Ohio
  • Curt and Carrie Divine of Morganfield, Kentucky
  • Jennifer Kindig of Brook, Indiana

About the Excellence In Agriculture Award

The Excellence in Agriculture award recognizes successful young people 35 or younger who are involved in production agriculture, but whose primary occupations are not farming. The award is based on farm involvement as well as participation in Farm Bureau and other community organizations. 

“We are proud to support young farmers who also support their rural communities not only through farming, but in many ways beyond production agriculture,” said Matt Walter, chair of the Board of Directors for FCS. “This award is about everything we believe in – inspiring young farmers who are successfully finding creative means in upholding the tradition of agriculture and maintaining the values of strong community involvement.”

The Excellence in Ag award is one of several youth and young farmer programs that Farm Credit backs through its “Support for Agriculture Program.”  The FCS Board of Directors annually allocates over $1 million dollars to agriculture programs that build leadership, encourage teamwork and provide educational advancement in rural America.

Biographies of State Excellence in Ag Winners

Katy Endsley of Pickerington, Ohio

FBOhio.jpgAs program manager for the Ohio FFA Association, Katy Endsley of Pickerington, Ohio guides and directs the FFA Officer team. She also conducts leadership training and assists the officers in ag based curriculum development.  Katy and her husband, Chad, breed and sell miniature donkeys and assist in family farming and forage operations. She has taken an active role in Fairfield County Farm Bureau, serving on an advisory council and helping secure contributions for the Farm Bureau Barn on the county Fairgrounds. The Endsleys are the parents of a six-month-old daughter, Caroline. Pictured here is Katy, Tom Schlenker (FCS) and Cody Kirkpatrick (JD Equipment).

Dan and Cara June Strasser of Chapel Hill, Tennessee

FBStrassers.jpgDan and Cara June Strasser of Chapel Hill, Tennessee, are part owners of the Strasser Family Dairy where they specialize in marketing and creative development of the family’s farm store, corn maze, petting zoo and goat walk.  Additionally, Dan works off the farm as a market development director for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.  They stay active in their community with Farm Bureau as well as serving as directors of religious education at St. William Catholic Church.  Cara June is also a Girl Scout leader.  The Strassers have been married 10 years and have three children: Emma June, Ellarose and Jude.

Curt and Carrie Divine of Morganfield, Kentucky

FBKentucky.jpgCurt and Carrie Divine were both raised on family farms in Union County, Kentucky. They each started their own cattle herds in high school FFA which built the foundation for the beef cattle and forage operation that they still operate today. They are also co-owners of Divine Habitat Management, a land use and wildlife habitat consulting and management firm. Curt is employed as a Wildlife Technician for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife managing the 5,400 acre Higginson-Henry Wildlife Management area. Carrie serves as the Director of the Henderson Community College Herron Technology Center and Workforce Development Liaison. Curt and Carrie are the proud parents of their two year old son Coy and 9 month old daughter Cailey. The Divines are pictured here with Marshall Coyle, Robert Monk and David Beck.

Jennifer and Ryan Kindig of Brook, Indiana

Jennifer Kindig and her husband, Ryan, of Brook, Indiana have a small grain farm and own a trucking company where Jennifer handles the dispatching and bookwork for the family business.  In addition to being involved in the Farm Bureau, Jennifer is also a member of the Indiana Young Farmer Association and as the state winner of the Spokesperson Competition attended the National Convention in Baltimore earlier this month.  The Kindigs are active in their church as youth group leaders and preschool teaching.  They have four children:  Ross, Grace, Andrew, Alex.

About Farm Credit Services

Farm Credit Services of Mid-America is a $16 billion financial services cooperative serving over 85,000 farmers, agribusinesses and rural residents in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee. The association provides loans for all farm and rural living purposes including real estate, operating, equipment and housing and related services such as crop and life insurance and vehicle, equipment and building leases. For more information about Farm Credit, call 1-800-444-FARM or go online to www.e-farmcredit.com.