LEADERSHIP
WFBF Announces Excellence in Ag Finalists F
Excellence in Ag award applicants are agriculturists who our individuals have been selected as Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Excellence in Ag finalists and will compete in have not derived a majority of their income from a farm (that November for the top honor. they own) for the past three years. Examples of occupations of past finalists include agricultural education instructor, The Excellence in Ag award recognizes members of Farm fertilizer salesperson, veterinarian, farm employee, journalist Bureau’s Young Farmer and Agriculturist Program who excel in their leadership abilities and involvement in agriculture, and marketer. Each finalist must make a presentation and answer questions Farm Bureau and other civic and service organizations. for a panel of judges. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this year’s “We have four outstanding agricultural advocates in this contest will be held virtually. The state winner will compete year’s state competition,” said WFBF President Joe Bragger. at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2021 Annual “This contest highlights these individuals and how they have Convention. positively impacted Wisconsin agriculture and Farm Bureau and inspire others to do the same.” The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation co-sponsors this The four finalists are: contest with GROWMARK, Inc., and Rural Mutual Insurance • Stephanie Abts of Manitowoc County. Stephanie is a dairy Company. Farm Bureau’s YFA program is open to members nutritionist at Rio Creek Feed Mill, Inc. Stephanie and her between the ages of 18 and 35. Information and applications for husband own and operate Abts Champion Dairy, where all YFA contests can be downloaded from wfbf.com. they milk 130 Holstein cows. Last year’s Excellence in Ag award recipient was Ben Huber • Natasha Paris of Green Lake County. Natasha is the from Green County. agriculture teacher and FFA advisor in Ripon. She and her husband also own Stephanie Abts ParKelm Farm, a direct-marketing pastured meats operation in Green Lake. • Julie Wadzinski of Barron County. Julie is a farm operations instructor at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College. She has participated in the Discussion Meet, Kellie Zahn been a delegate for Barron County, served as the District 9 YFA Representative Natasha Paris and the WFBF YFA Committee Chair. Julie Wadzinski • Kellie Zahn of Shawano County. Kellie is an agriculture agent at the Stockbridge-Munsee Community. She is a board member for the Shawano County Farm Bureau and a graduate of the WFBF Leadership Institute.
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Rural Route
WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION
