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Outstanding Young Farmer winners develop lasting friendships
Winners of the National Outstanding Young Farmer Awards are honored by the recognition but take lifelong friendships from the experience. Matt Kilgus wasn’t aware that there was an Outstanding Young Farmer Program until he was nominated. Kilgus and his wife Jenna, dairy farmers from Fairbury, Illinois who retail products through their own country store, were among four young couples selected in the Class of 2022, which Kilgus says is more than just an award.
“The friendships we’ve developed, the connections we’ve developed with the other farmers, I think, is something that’s going to last a lifetime of friendships that’ll go long past the awards tonight,” Kilgus told Brownfield Ag News, shortly after learning they were winners.
The COVID-related cancelation of the program last year meant that the Class of 2021 was also announced at this year’s NOYF Congress. Phil Finger and his wife Laura were pleased to be recognized for doing their life’s work as dairy farmers from Peshtigo, Wisconsin.
“You farm every day, you don’t look for awards,” Phil Finger told Brownfield Ag News, after being selected. “You’re just out there fighting the weather, enjoying employees, enjoying cows; this has been over the top, just a life-changing experience.”
Four couples named Outstanding Young Farmers are chosen annually by the Outstanding Farmers of America, culminating at the National Outstanding Young Farmer Awards Congress, held this year at Hilton Head, South Carolina.
Rounding out the winners in the Class of 2021:
Jeroen and Traci van der Ploeg, dairy and crop farmers from Clovis, New Mexico;
Matt and Melissa Bottoms, soybean, corn, millet, and nursery farmers from Concord, Georgia;
Hillary and Jeff Barile, sod, wheat, soybean, and barley growers, who also operate a malting house at their farm in Shiloh, New Jersey,
The other three winners from the Class of 2022:
Joe and Ashley Dudkiewicz, corn, soybean, wheat, hay, and beef cattle farmers from Crivitz, Wisconsin;
Hunter and Laura Grills, soybean, corn, triticale, and cattle farmers from northwestern Tennessee, the ninth generation on their farm.
Richie and Sarah Heinrich, corn, soybean, wheat, oats, sorghum sudangrass, and cattle farmers from Medina, North Dakota.
Matt & Jenna certainly deserve this award! Perfect choice to represent farmers. Their store and the quality of their products is outstanding.