Four outstanding Young Farmers who competed with 13 other contestants in four categories — Achievement, Employee, Leader and Excellence — have been announced as winners of Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 2026 Young Farmer Awards: Katie Adam (Huron County), Taylor Schomaker (Saginaw), Karl and Katie Wernette (Mecosta) and Samantha and Chase Bos (Ottawa).
Every year, young Michigan farmers ages 18-35 face off in categories geared toward measuring their agricultural involvement, leadership and achievements.
“Our Young Farmer award winners and finalists are helping shape the future of Michigan agriculture through their leadership, innovation, and commitment to their communities,” said MFB Young Farmer Manager Katie Eisenberger. “We’re proud to celebrate the impact they are making and the example they set for others across our industry.”
Employee: Katie Adam
MFB’s 2026 Young Agriculture Employee Award goes to Star of the West advisor Katie Adam from Huron County. This award recognizes farm employees and ag professionals for their contributions to the success and long-term profitability of their workplace. Nominees are also judged on their leadership involvement in Farm Bureau, agriculture and the local community.
Adam supports grain and bean producers, supporting their sustainability efforts, bridging the gap between producers and end users, and creating new revenue streams.
Alongside her husband, children and his family, she manages operations at Adam Farms LLC, a sixth-generation row crop and livestock operation raising sugar beets, dry beans, wheat, corn and soybeans. The livestock side includes a swine-finishing facility.
“My on-farm experience helps me to understand agricultural production through the entire supply chain,” she said.
Adam looks forward to continued growth as a leader, developing and scaling programs that create value for farmers and ensuring they’re compensated for their stewardship.
Continued Farm Bureau involvement is important to Adam, as she has her sights set on someday serving at the state level.
“It represents the power of agriculture coming together as one unified voice,” she said. “In an industry that is constantly evolving and often misunderstood, Farm Bureau provides a platform for us to advocate collectively for priorities that support farmers’ livelihoods and rural communities.
“The value in that unity is bringing together individuals from all sectors to be strong, positive voices for our industry,” Adam said. “It creates opportunities for leadership, education and connection while ensuring agriculture is thoughtfully and effectively represented.”
Also competing this year in the Employee category were Matthew Bernia from Muskegon County, Livingston County’s Matt Graham and Andrew Littlefield of St. Joseph County.
Leader: Taylor Schomaker
The 2026 Young Farmer Agriculture Leader Award is headed for Taylor Schomaker’s trophy case in Saginaw County. The award honors successful young agriculturalists who earn the majority of their income from a farm operation, for their outstanding leadership in Farm Bureau, farming and throughout the agricultural community.
Schomaker Farms encompasses produce, livestock and agritourism, with Taylor and her husband Ryan producing 30 different crops on as many acres, and raising protein from chickens and sheep to pasturing cattle and pigs.
Flexing her Farm Bureau leadership programming toward boosting her local farm community is a point of pride. Schomaker’s efforts to link her community with ag include the weekly Thomas Township Farmers Market, a gathering place supporting local farms and businesses while making locally grown food more accessible.
“I’m also proud of expanding our education and outreach,” Schomaker said, “creating programs and experiences that help people learn where food comes from and build trust in agriculture through hands-on connection.”
Down the road Schomaker aims to grow the farm and continue efforts to expand ag-education and outreach to equip non-farmers with a better understanding of food production, processing and distribution.
“Farm Bureau has connected me to a strong network of leaders and practical resources for improved decision-making on our farm and throughout our community,” Schomaker said. “I’ve grown as a leader through education, relationships and programs that amplify ag’s story and strengthen the future of Michigan farming.”
Also competing for this year’s Leader award were Joshua Haubenstricker of Saginaw County, Ottawa County’s Kyle Rasch and Daniel Ringkvist from Lenawee County.
Achievement: Karl and Katie Wernette
Karl and Katie Wernette have earned the 2026 Young Farmer Achievement award, which recognizes successful Young Farmers (individuals or couples) who derive a majority of their income from an owned production agriculture enterprise, showcasing their achievements in the business of farming.
The Mecosta County Farm Bureau couple run a cow-calf operation outside Remus, focusing on efficiency and environmental impact. They rotationally graze around 350 cows on 2,000 acres of pasture and 300 acres of cover crops.
Wernette Cattle Company, which they run alongside Karl’s father, hosts the MCA-MSU Bull Evaluation program, grading 80-100 bulls annually for efficiency and other key factors.
A focus on sustainability drives new initiatives on the farm.
“We’re proud of our partnership with MSU’s Lake City Research Station and the Noble Research Institute,” Karl said. “By adding monitors we’re able to evaluate the effect of rotational grazing on carbon sequestration.”
Added to their business are direct-to-consumer sales through Wernette Beef, 300 acres of cash crops, and 350 acres of hay. They also source and prepare nearly 800 cattle each year for Michigan feedlot operators.
“Farm Bureau has helped us build our network and provided opportunities to grow as leaders,” said Katie, who teaches agriscience at Alma High School.
Looking ahead, with their three young children in mind, continued growth and expansion are very much on the to-do list.
Also vying for this year’s Achievement award was Chylie Sweeney from Sanilac County.
Excellence: Samantha & Chase Bos
Ottawa County ag-education power couple Samantha and Chase Bos are winners of MFB’s 2026 Young Farmer Excellence Award. The pair ply their trades building tomorrow’s ag leaders at Coopersville High School (Sam) and the Newaygo County Career-Tech Center (Chase).
The Excellence in Agriculture Award is designed to recognize Young Farmers — individuals or couples — for their involvement in agriculture, leadership ability and participation in Farm Bureau.
“We would not be where we are without the support of our parents, mentors and Farm Bureau members,” said Samantha, whose gateway into the program included successful runs in both Collegiate and state-level Young Farmer Discussion Meets.
Beyond their classroom curricula, the west-side pair also pitch in at Windswept Farms LLC, the 250-ewe operation run by Samantha’s parents.
Both have racked up impressive accolades as educators, and Sam’s leadership with the Michigan Sheep Producers Association includes a stint as its executive director and, now, chairing its youth committee.
Not surprisingly, they plan to continue growing their respective agriscience programs, and investing in land from which to launch their own livestock business.
“Farm Bureau provides opportunities for connections with peers throughout agriculture,” Sam said. “Membership provides a strong sense of connection, access to limitless resources and the opportunity to be part of something bigger than yourself.”
Also in the running for this year’s Excellence award were Washtenaw County’s Erica Drake, Nathan and Amber Krohn of Barry County, and Jackson County’s Charles Loveland.
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