Branch County young farmer wins MFB Discussion Meet
Branch County young farmer wins MFB Discussion Meet
Branch County young farmer wins MFB Discussion Meet
Branch County young farmer wins MFB Discussion Meet
Branch County young farmer wins MFB Discussion Meet
Contacts: Through Dec. 5, contact Jill Corrin at (616) 742-7776; After Dec. 5, contact Lori Chamberlain at (800) 292-2680, ext. 3234
GRAND RAPIDS, Dec. 3, 2008 – Young farmer Brian Preston, of Quincy in Branch County, is the winner of Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 2008 Young Farmer Discussion Meet.
Following a day of four rounds of competition in the public speaking contest, Preston was named the winner during an awards ceremony Dec. 3 at MFB’s 89th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids. He competed against 31 fellow young farmers from across the state for the title.
The annual Discussion Meet challenges MFB members, ages 18 to 35, to discuss current agricultural issues. Contestants are evaluated on their timed analysis of each topic, delivery and cooperative attitude. Participants are eligible to compete in the state contest after successfully advancing in district meets.
As the winner, Preston was rewarded with an all-expense-paid trip to Iowa to visit the John Deere world headquarters and a John Deere factory, courtesy of JDE Equipment Co.; a $500 cash prize from General Motors; a prize sponsored by the Farm Bureau Family Credit Union and Grainger; and sponsorship to Michigan Farm Bureau’s 2009 Young Farmer Leaders’ Conference.
In addition, Preston will compete in the Young Farmer and Rancher (YF&R) Discussion Meet at the American Farm Bureau Federation 90th Convention and Annual Meeting, Jan. 11-14 in San Antonio, Texas. The national winner will receive a 2009 “nicely equipped” Dodge Ram 2500 and paid registration to the 2009 YF&R Leadership Conference, Feb. 7-9, 2009 in Sacramento, Calif. Each of the three national runners-up will receive a $6,000 U.S. Savings Bond and a Farm Boss on behalf of Stihl. All national competitors will receive an inscribed plaque.
The 30-year-old operates Preston Farms in partnership with his father, uncle and cousin. The family milks 620 cows, operates four contract hog finishing barns, and produces forage for the dairy herd on 500 acres.
Top six finalists
Rounding out the top six finalists were Jill Cords, of Charlotte in Eaton County; Matt Jakubik, of West Branch in Iosco County; Kevin Nugent, of Lowell in Kent County; Sara Springsteen of Centreville in St. Joseph County; and Scott Weldon of Jonesville in Hillsdale County.
Each of the top six finalists received a prize package sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the Farm Bureau Family Credit Union and Grainger.
MFB is the state’s largest general farm organization, representing more than 47,000 farm families. The MFB annual meeting kicked off on Dec. 2 and continues through Dec. 5 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and DeVos Place.
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Editor’s Note: Visit http://www.michfb.com/annual/photos for photos from the awards ceremony.
Contacts: Through Dec. 5, contact Jill Corrin at (616) 742-7776; After Dec. 5, contact Lori Chamberlain at (800) 292-2680, ext. 3234
GRAND RAPIDS, Dec. 3, 2008 – Young farmer Brian Preston, of Quincy in Branch County, is the winner of Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 2008 Young Farmer Discussion Meet.
Following a day of four rounds of competition in the public speaking contest, Preston was named the winner during an awards ceremony Dec. 3 at MFB’s 89th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids. He competed against 31 fellow young farmers from across the state for the title.
The annual Discussion Meet challenges MFB members, ages 18 to 35, to discuss current agricultural issues. Contestants are evaluated on their timed analysis of each topic, delivery and cooperative attitude. Participants are eligible to compete in the state contest after successfully advancing in district meets.
As the winner, Preston was rewarded with an all-expense-paid trip to Iowa to visit the John Deere world headquarters and a John Deere factory, courtesy of JDE Equipment Co.; a $500 cash prize from General Motors; a prize sponsored by the Farm Bureau Family Credit Union and Grainger; and sponsorship to Michigan Farm Bureau’s 2009 Young Farmer Leaders’ Conference.
In addition, Preston will compete in the Young Farmer and Rancher (YF&R) Discussion Meet at the American Farm Bureau Federation 90th Convention and Annual Meeting, Jan. 11-14 in San Antonio, Texas. The national winner will receive a 2009 “nicely equipped” Dodge Ram 2500 and paid registration to the 2009 YF&R Leadership Conference, Feb. 7-9, 2009 in Sacramento, Calif. Each of the three national runners-up will receive a $6,000 U.S. Savings Bond and a Farm Boss on behalf of Stihl. All national competitors will receive an inscribed plaque.
The 30-year-old operates Preston Farms in partnership with his father, uncle and cousin. The family milks 620 cows, operates four contract hog finishing barns, and produces forage for the dairy herd on 500 acres.
Top six finalists
Rounding out the top six finalists were Jill Cords, of Charlotte in Eaton County; Matt Jakubik, of West Branch in Iosco County; Kevin Nugent, of Lowell in Kent County; Sara Springsteen of Centreville in St. Joseph County; and Scott Weldon of Jonesville in Hillsdale County.
Each of the top six finalists received a prize package sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the Farm Bureau Family Credit Union and Grainger.
MFB is the state’s largest general farm organization, representing more than 47,000 farm families. The MFB annual meeting kicked off on Dec. 2 and continues through Dec. 5 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and DeVos Place.
-30-
Editor’s Note: Visit http://www.michfb.com/annual/photos for photos from the awards ceremony.
Contacts: Through Dec. 5, contact Jill Corrin at (616) 742-7776; After Dec. 5, contact Lori Chamberlain at (800) 292-2680, ext. 3234
GRAND RAPIDS, Dec. 3, 2008 – Young farmer Brian Preston, of Quincy in Branch County, is the winner of Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 2008 Young Farmer Discussion Meet.
Following a day of four rounds of competition in the public speaking contest, Preston was named the winner during an awards ceremony Dec. 3 at MFB’s 89th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids. He competed against 31 fellow young farmers from across the state for the title.
The annual Discussion Meet challenges MFB members, ages 18 to 35, to discuss current agricultural issues. Contestants are evaluated on their timed analysis of each topic, delivery and cooperative attitude. Participants are eligible to compete in the state contest after successfully advancing in district meets.
As the winner, Preston was rewarded with an all-expense-paid trip to Iowa to visit the John Deere world headquarters and a John Deere factory, courtesy of JDE Equipment Co.; a $500 cash prize from General Motors; a prize sponsored by the Farm Bureau Family Credit Union and Grainger; and sponsorship to Michigan Farm Bureau’s 2009 Young Farmer Leaders’ Conference.
In addition, Preston will compete in the Young Farmer and Rancher (YF&R) Discussion Meet at the American Farm Bureau Federation 90th Convention and Annual Meeting, Jan. 11-14 in San Antonio, Texas. The national winner will receive a 2009 “nicely equipped” Dodge Ram 2500 and paid registration to the 2009 YF&R Leadership Conference, Feb. 7-9, 2009 in Sacramento, Calif. Each of the three national runners-up will receive a $6,000 U.S. Savings Bond and a Farm Boss on behalf of Stihl. All national competitors will receive an inscribed plaque.
The 30-year-old operates Preston Farms in partnership with his father, uncle and cousin. The family milks 620 cows, operates four contract hog finishing barns, and produces forage for the dairy herd on 500 acres.
Top six finalists
Rounding out the top six finalists were Jill Cords, of Charlotte in Eaton County; Matt Jakubik, of West Branch in Iosco County; Kevin Nugent, of Lowell in Kent County; Sara Springsteen of Centreville in St. Joseph County; and Scott Weldon of Jonesville in Hillsdale County.
Each of the top six finalists received a prize package sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the Farm Bureau Family Credit Union and Grainger.
MFB is the state’s largest general farm organization, representing more than 47,000 farm families. The MFB annual meeting kicked off on Dec. 2 and continues through Dec. 5 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and DeVos Place.
-30-
Editor’s Note: Visit http://www.michfb.com/annual/photos for photos from the awards ceremony.
