Approximately 300 people attended the Ag Day Mix-and-Mingle Luncheon at
the Canon Caucus Room on March 19. Attendees listened to
Congressman Frank Lucas speak on the importance of American
agriculture along with Troy and Bobbie Uglem, North Dakota, the 2012 Outstanding
Young Farmer honorees. Also speaking at the luncheon was Dave Schmidt, Alliance to Feed the Future.
The Outstanding Young Farmer program began in the 1940s. The first
Outstanding Young Farmer National Congress, held under the sponsorship
of John Deere, in 1977, in Bismarck, ND.
From the registrations received each year, the top 25 candidates are
reviewed by judges and from that group the top ten are chosen for an
expense paid trip to the OYF Awards Congress each year. These top 10
automatically become members of the OFA Fraternity. From the top ten – 4
are chosen as National Outstanding Young Farmers. There are 1500 plus members in the OFA fraternity and several
hundred of them return each year to attend the Congress and renew
friendships from years passed. The OFA Fraternity are incorporated and
elect officers who serve 2 year terms. The OFA is a very important part
of the OYF Program and the majority of the membership remain successful
and influential farmers.
John Deere has been the national sponsor of this program since 1977. Honorees for the Outstanding Young Farmers were: Andrew & Karlie
Bowman, IL; Troy & Bobbie Uglem, ND; Joy & Duce Tallamy, NJ; Renee & Brian Schaal, WI.
