Young farmers honored at New York Farm Bureau’s annual meeting

ALBANY, N.Y. — The New York Farm Bureau honored outstanding young farmers during the organization’s State Annual Meeting recently in Melville.

Young farmers ages 18 to 35 competed in statewide competitions during the fall and the winners were announced Dec. 7.

Cattaraugus County residents Nathan and Barbara Blesy received the 2010 Young Farmer Achievement Award. This award recognizes young farmers for their agricultural pursuits and leadership within the community.

Nathan is partnered with his father in a 240-cow dairy farm, where they recently added four robotic milking units, a robotic manure scraper and a robotic feed pusher.

Barbara manages the farm’s Facebook page and helps out with farm work, along with caring for the families five children.

Prizes

The Blesys were awarded a cash award from RAM trucks and the NYFB Young Farmer & Rancher Program, use of a Kubota M Series utility tractor and an expense-paid trip to compete on the national level at the American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in Atlanta in January.

Charlee Doom, member of the Dutchess/Putman/Westchester County Farm Bureau, was named the winner of the discussion meet finals.

Four finalists competed Dec. 7, in the last round of discussion meet judging on the topic of government involvement in agriculture.

Doom received cash prizes from Dodge and the New York Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Program, a prize from Grainger, and an expense-paid trip to compete nationally at the American Farm Bureau Federation Convention.

Next step

These individuals will represent New York Farm Bureau during the American Farm Bureau Federation‘s annual convention Jan. 9-12 in Atlanta. The winners of each of these national contests will receive a 2010 Dodge pickup truck.

New York Farm Bureau’s State Annual Meeting brings together members of the largest agricultural advocacy group in the state to determine the policies that will guide the organization for the coming year.