HERSHEY, Pa. — Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB) has selected Andrew and Katherine Flinchbaugh, of York County, as the winners of the 2014 Young Farmer and Rancher (YF&R) Achievement Award, during PFB’s 64th annual meeting in Hershey.
YF&R Achievement Award
The award honors the farm couple or individual between 18 and 35 who have demonstrated outstanding farming and leadership achievements.
The contestants were evaluated by a panel of judges on the basis of their farm operation, with emphasis on the farm’s growth and financial progress and the applicant’s record of leadership within and outside of Farm Bureau.
Andrew “Andy” and Katherine “Katie” are fourth generation farmers, who hold an ownership share in Flinchbaugh’s Orchard & Farm Market in Hellam Township.
They are part of a LLC partnership with Andy’s parents, (Ritchie and Sonia), brother (Michael) and sister (Julie Flinchbaugh Keene).
The family farm is a diverse operation, comprised of an orchard and farm market, which includes agritourism activities; grain crops, such as corn and soybeans; and animals, including pigs and egg-laying hens.
Flinchbaugh’s Orchards & Farm Market was recognized earlier this year for enrolling more than 200 acres into the state’s Farmland Preservation Program, enabling Pennsylvania to become the first state in the nation to eclipse the 500,000-acre plateau in preserved farmland.
Meanwhile, this year’s YF&R Achievement Award runners-up were dairy farmers Nathan and Erica Mowrer of Huntington County.
Nathan is a seventh generation dairy farmer, working in partnership with his father.
As the Achievement Award winner, the Flinchbaughs receive $100 Gift Cards from MSC Business Services and Safemark, 100 hours of use of a new tractor from Case IH, gift prize packs from Grainger and Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, and an expense paid trip to PFB’s 2015 State YF&R Leadership Conference.
Excellence in Agriculture Award
Donald and Kristen Buckman of Bucks County have been selected Pennsylvania Farm Bureau’s recipients of the 2014 Young Farmer and Rancher “Excellence in Agriculture” Award.
The Buckmans were picked as winners based on their overall involvement and leadership in agriculture and Farm Bureau, even though they do not derive the majority of their income from an agriculture operation.
Donald works full-time as a welder, but he and Kristen also own a family farm (Lonely Willow Farm), where they raise crops and livestock. Don is in charge of the grain and hay crops, while his brother is in charge of animals on the farm.
YF&R discussion meet
York County farmer Michael “Mike” Flinchbaugh of Flinchbaugh’s Orchard & Farm Market has been named the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB) winner of the 2014 Young Farmer and Rancher Discussion Meet.
The discussion meet contestants were put in situations where they had to analyze agricultural problems and decide on solutions that best meet their needs.
The discussion meet is designed to help members build communications skills, develop an understanding of important agricultural issues and explore how groups can pool resources to reach a consensus and solve problems.
Social media video contest
Cousins Courtney and Brianna Meyer of Clinton County have been selected the winners of Pennsylvania Farm Bureau’s (PFB) 2014 Young Farmer and Rancher Social Media Video Contest.
Courtney and Brianna play key roles in the operation of the family farm in Loganton, where they help milk 200 Holstein cows and grow crops on 450 acres at Meyer Dairy Farm LLC.
Judges based their decision for selecting the winning video on how well it promoted modern agricultural practices in a positive manner to consumer audiences of diverse backgrounds.
Other factors included speaking ability, explanation of farming operation, clarity of agriculture practices and pro-actively addressing known consumer concerns or negative perceptions about agriculture.
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