2026 Excellence in Agriculture and Achievement Award

Applications are open until Monday, April 1, 2026 by 4:00 p.m. CT

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The Excellence in Agriculture competition is designed as an opportunity for Young Leaders to earn recognition, while actively contributing and growing though their involvement in Farm Bureau and the agriculture industry. The winner is selected based on their involvement in agriculture, impact on the industry, leadership ability, and participation/involvement in Farm Bureau and other organizations (i.e. civic, service, and community). The ideal candidate(s) for the Excellence in Agriculture Award is an individual or couple who does not have the majority of his/ her net income subject to normal production risk.

The Young Leader Achievement Award is designed to recognize Young Leaders for their achievements in production agriculture and leadership. Participants are judged on the growth, achievements, financial success, management decisions, and goals of their farm operation as well as their leadership and Farm Bureau experience. The ideal candidate(s) for the Achievement Award is an individual or couple involved in production agriculture with a majority of their net income subject to normal production risks.

Eligibility Reminders:

  • County managers will be asked to verify applicants’ eligibility through the “recommendation” function of OpenWater before the application can be submitted.

  • Please encourage prospective applicants to review the rules and guidelines in full before beginning the application, as we update these rules each year based on AFBF’s guidelines. Please reach out to the IFB State Young Leader Program Coordinator directly if you need assistance navigating what is and is not considered to be an affiliate company based on the definition in the application.

Resources:

General Information

Excellence in Agriculture Award

Achievement Award

For more information, contact the IFB State Young Leader Coordinator at youngleaders@ilfb.org.