Louisville, KY (October 3, 2012) – Each year, Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB) presents its “Outstanding Young Farm Family” award to recognize a couple under age 35 who has exhibited the strongest farm management skills, most consistent financial growth and highest level of involvement in both Farm Bureau and their community. Preliminary judging of applicants for the 2012 “Outstanding Young Farm Family” award is now complete, and KFB has identified the three finalists for this prestigious honor: Ryan and Misty Bivens of LaRue County, Michael and Jill Harton of Christian County and Bruce and Charissa Wade of Mercer County.

 

Ryan & Misty Bivens

Ryan and Misty Bivens began farming as a family in 2002, moving to an area of LaRue County where neither one had roots or land to begin their operation. Today, through a variety of partnerships and some old-fashioned hard work, the Bivens now farm 5,753 acres of land and raise commercial beef cattle while growing corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa and grass hay. Ryan and Misty both have served the LaRue County Farm Bureau board in multiple roles, including president, and Misty still serves in that capacity today. Additionally, the Bivens regularly volunteer their time to a large number and wide variety of organizations, and they continue to compete in numerous state and national Farm Bureau contests.

 

 

Michael & Jill Harton

Michael and Jill Harton have been farming together since 2005, building their operation from concept phase into today’s 175-acre farm in just a few short years. The Harton’s grow corn, wheat, soybeans and dark-fired tobacco while supplying much of the labor to maintain these crops themselves. Michael also currently serves on the Christian County Farm Bureau board as the treasurer and volunteers his time to several other county Farm Bureau committees and local organizations.

 

 

Bruce & Charissa Wade

Bruce and Charissa Wade started their family farm in 2001 and quickly grew the operation into a 3,300-acre farm that required them both to devote full-time their employment. The Wades currently run commercial cow/calf and stocker cattle operations while raising corn, soybeans alfalfa and tobacco. Bruce has served as a board member for Mercer County Farm Bureau and both regularly volunteer their time and leadership abilities to local agricultural and civic organizations.

 

 

Judges will visit the three finalists during the second week of October to conduct interviews and see their farms in action. The “Outstanding Young Farm Family” winner will be announced at the organization’s 2012 state annual meeting in Louisville on December 7.

 

In addition to receiving statewide recognition as the 2012 “Outstanding Young Farm Family,” the winner will receive a Case IH Scout courtesy of KFB Insurance and Case IH, an Apple iPad2 from Republic Bank & Trust, $1,000 cash from Premier Crop Insurance, a $750 Dyno-Gro seed voucher from Crop Production Services, a $500 voucher from Southern States Cooperative, a portable handgun safe from Misty Morn Safe Company, and a voucher for 16 bags of seed corn from Pioneer Seed.

 

The “Outstanding Young Farm Family” will also receive an expense-paid trip to compete in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s national young farmer contest in Nashville, TN, in January 2013. Winners of the national contest will have their choice of either a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado or a 2013 GMC Sierra. Each of the three national runners up will receive a Case IH Farmall 65A tractor from CASE IH.