Thirty-four county Farm Bureaus nationwide were recognized by the American Farm Bureau Federation for innovative program ideas in this year's County Activities of Excellence Awards program. The winners will be highlighted during AFBF's 98th Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show, Jan. 6-11, 2017, in Phoenix.
The CAE program acknowledges and shares successful county Farm Bureau programs and activities. The awards are based on county Farm Bureau membership. Counties compete for recognition in five different groups. Those groups are county Farm Bureaus with membership of less than 1,000 members, 1,001-3,000 members, 3,001-5,000 members, more than 5,001 members, and for collaborative multi-county activities regardless of membership size.
"It's a pleasure to recognize the outstanding efforts of grassroots Farm Bureau members who join at the county level," said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. "Members are the heart and soul of Farm Bureau. It's encouraging to see the creative ways they reach out in their communities to share information about today's food and farming."
This year's CAE award winners come from 11 states: California, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. The winners (listed by state and county Farm Bureau) are:
Less than 1,000 Members
Kansas
Ag Ambassador Program, Reno
New York
Farm to Fork A-Fair, Chenango
Ohio
Agriculture Experience Day, Jackson-Vinton
Drive-It Yourself Ag Tours Galore, Lawrence
Pennsylvania
Agricultural Career Days, Blair
1,001-3,000 Members
California
Valley's Gold, Fresno
Illinois
Farm to Fork Gala, Knox
Kansas
Farm City Day, Allen
Ohio
Harvest for Hospice Farm to Plate, Tuscarawas
Virginia
Farming Leaders, Rockingham
3,001-5,000 Members
Michigan
Special Needs Livestock Show: 4-H Challenged Me, Lapeer
Ohio
Farm Bureau/Boy Scout - Agriculture and Natural Resource Merit Badge Day, Jefferson
Benefit in the Barn, Symphony on the Farm, Delaware
Ag Facts Ads, Medina
Texas
Responding to Livestock Calls - Information for First Responders, Cherokee
5,001+ Members
Illinois
Ag All Around Us, Winnebago-Boone
Illinois
Farm Bureau Goes to the Farmer's Market, DuPage
Kentucky
County Forestry Days, Harlan
Nebraska
Antique Tractor & Car Show, Lancaster
Ohio
Drones, A County Farm Bureau and Policy Development, Hamilton
Multi-County Collaborative
California
Ag Unite, Butte, Stanislaus and Tuolumne
Illinois
Barging Ahead for Stronger Economies, Marshall-Putnam, Peoria and Stark
New York
Grown in Our State, Broome, Cortland, Madison, Oneida and Onondaga
Ohio
Grain Bin Rescue Tubes, Ashland, Wayne and Holmes