Couple makes it to Top 10 for National Farm Bureau award
MACON — Polk County Farm Bureau members Bennett and Rebecca Jacobs advanced to the top 10 in the American Farm Bureau Federation ( AFBF) Young Farmer and Rancher Excellence in Agriculture competition, held Jan. 7 through Jan. 9 during the AFBF Annual Convention in Phoenix, Arizona.
The Jacobses won the Georgia Farm Bureau Excellence in Agriculture Award last July. As the state winners, they advanced to the AFBF competition on the national level.
The Excellence in Agriculture Award recognizes young farmers who earn the majority of their income from something other than production agriculture.
The couple made their presentation in the initial round of competitors from 28 states. During the 30-minute presentation, they outlined their farm operation, volunteer work with agricultural organizations, including Farm Bureau, and Bennett’s work as an agriculture teacher and FFA advisor.
“We have to be open and honest about what we do including places we can better ourselves. We need to explain things in a concise and truthful manner that consumers can understand,” Bennett said during the opening presentation. “We’re committed to facing agriculture’s challenges by educating ourselves, working with youth and sharing our message with consumers and legislators. One of the important things about being a part of Farm Bureau is it lets us know we don’t have to go it alone. Farm Bureau provides us with the tools and resources we need.”
The top 10 entries participated in a round of interviews from which the national winners were determined.
Bennett, a PCFB director, teaches agriculture at the Carroll County College and Career Academy. He and Rebecca farm 350 acres of family land in Rockmart, raising beef cattle and pastured pigs, as well as harvesting timber. Bennett chairs the Polk County Farm Bureau (PCFB) Young Farmer Committee and Rebecca chairs the PCFB Promotion and Education Committee.
The Jacobses made the top 10 in GFB’s fourth year of placing an entry in the contest for the Excellence in Agriculture Award, which was won by Sarah Scyphers of Virginia.