A Polk County couple was named runners-up in the American Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher Achievement Award competition during the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 90th annual convention Jan. 11-14 in San Antonio.
Larry and Jenny Black of Lakeland were runners-up in the Achievement Award contest. They will receive a Case IH DX compact tractor, courtesy of Case IH, and a $500 product voucher from Valvoline. The Achievement 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 Farm Bureau.
Florida Farm Bureau was recognized with all five Awards for Excellence, which are presented to state Farm Bureaus that have outstanding programs. Florida was recognized in the areas of Education and Agricultural Promotion, Leadership Development, Policy Implementation, Member Services and Public Relations and Information.
Broward County Farm Bureau was among 15 recognized by the American Farm Bureau Federation through the County Activities of Excellence (CAE) program for outstanding county Farm Bureau programs and initiatives. Representatives from Broward County staffed a booth in the trade show area of the convention showcasing their “A Taste of South Florida” exhibit. Broward County Farm Bureau organized a trade show at a local urban mall to introduce members of the community to local growers and showcase the county’s agriculture industry. The exhibit allowed growers to highlight the positive aspects of their businesses and spotlighted Farm Bureau’s importance in the county.