Steven and Richelle Bach, winners of the Outstanding Young Farm Family contest at the Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB) annual meeting in December, were named runners-up in the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Awards. The Bath County couple traveled to Atlanta this week for the 2011 AFBF annual meeting and to compete against other young farm families from around the nation. The Bachs were awarded with a Case IH Farmall tractor and national recognition in the farming community for finishing as runners-up.

The AFBF Achievement Award recognizes young farmers and ranchers who have excelled in their farming or ranching operations and exhibited superior leadership abilities. Participants are evaluated on a combination of their agricultural operation's growth and financial progress, Farm Bureau leadership and leadership outside of Farm Bureau.

As was discovered during the competition in Kentucky, the Bachs have a unique and highly diverse operation. They grow row crops and hay, have a cow-calf operation, an orchard with peaches and apples plus several supplementary businesses. This includes custom farm work, marketing, and a charter flying service with Steven as the pilot.

"We were excited to represent Kentucky Farm Bureau on the national level," said Richelle, "and honored to be have been selected as national runner-up."

"It is humbling to be recognized in such an outstanding group of people," added Steven. "We would like to thank all of the sponsors for their dedication to the American Farm Bureau."

More than 260 Kentuckians - including 26 voting delegates - braved the uncharacteristically snowy and icy weather in Georgia to attend the AFBF annual meeting with approximately 5,000 other Farm Bureau members from across the country. Other highlights from the Kentucky delegation include:

• Terry Gilbert, a KFB board member from Danville, was re-elected to a two-year term as Chair of the AFBF Women's Committee.

• Daniel and Sarah Mattingly, a Marion County couple, were among the finalists in the Young Farmer and Rancher Excellence in Agriculture competition.

• Hardin County Farm Bureau was among the 15 counties invited to share its "Ag Village" display in the County Activities of Excellence.

• KFB was honored with five Awards of Excellence for demonstrating outstanding achievements in meeting its members' needs in agricultural education and promotion, leadership development, member services, policy implementation, and public relations and information.

• KFB was also presented with the AFBF's Navigator Award, given to states with outstanding membership growth. As KFB recently topped the 500,000 membership mark, the organization became just the third Farm Bureau in the nation with more than a half-million members.
• Chad Hall, of Daviess County, represented Kentucky in the AFBF Discussion Meet.

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Cutline: Steven and Richelle Bach (left) were honored for finishing as national runners-up in the American Farm Bureau Federation's 2011 Young Farmer and Rancher Achievement Awards. A representative from Case IH (right center) helped Bob Stallman, president of AFBF (right), present the award during the AFBF annual meeting in Atlanta, GA.