Louisville, KY (December 1, 2017) Jay and Trisha Campbell of Logan County won top honors in Kentucky Farm Bureau’s (KFB) Excellence in Agriculture Awards program during the organization’s 98th annual meeting in Louisville this week.

The Excellence in Agriculture competition awards first, second and third place distinctions each year to individuals or couples under the age of 35 who contribute to and exhibit leadership growth from consistent involvement in Farm Bureau and other agriculture and civic-oriented organizations. To qualify, contestants must not have the majority of their income subject to normal production risks associated with farming.

For the win, the Campbells will go on to represent Kentucky in national competition at the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) annual convention, held in Nashville, Tenn. January 6-11, 2018. The Campbells were also presented with a John Deere Gator, courtesy of Farm Credit Mid-America, and an expenses-paid trip to the AFBF annual meeting.

Jay and Trisha Campbell come from farm families where working in tobacco, corn, soybeans, wheat and cattle were a part of their daily chores as youth. And while their parents taught them the value of hard work, discipline and respect, the leadership and focus of being involved in FFA confirmed for both that agriculture was going to be their way of life.

Today, Jay works as an agricultural education teacher and Trisha is a nurse using those skills to advocate for ag and teach her patients about healthy choices in diet and lifestyle. In addition to their daily jobs, the couple also sells beef both by the quarter as well as retail cuts through their home business. They are also still closely connected to their families’ farms located near their home. The parents of three plan to continue in their efforts to be strong advocates for agriculture through FFA, their involvement in Farm Bureau and through local and state ag-related events.

Second place in the contest went to Evan Michael Tate of Hancock County who was awarded $400 courtesy of KFB. Mike and Shelley Meyer Harrison County placed third and received $300 from KFB. 

When the Campbells compete for top national honors next month in Nashville, they will be vying for a 2018 Ford pickup courtesy of Country Financial, and a paid registration to the 2018 AFBF YF&R Conference in Reno, Nevada February 16-19.

Second place receives a Case IH Farmall 50A courtesy of Case IH.

Third place will receive a Case IH 40” Combination Roll Cabinet & Top Chest and a $500 Case IH parts card, courtesy of Case IH. They will also receive $2,000 of Stanley Black & Decker merchandise (PROTO, Dewalt, Stanley, Lenox & Irwin), courtesy of Stanley Black & Decker.

Fourth place receives a Case IH 40” Combination Roll Cabinet & Top Chest and a $500 Case IH parts card, courtesy of Case IH.

Kentucky Farm Bureau, with more than 478,000 member families statewide, is the state’s largest general farm organization. Approximately 2,000 members attended KFB’s 98th annual meeting in Louisville, November 29 – December 2, to recognize this year’s individual and organizational achievements and adopt policy for 2018. To view all the updates released from this year’s annual meeting, visit KYFBNewsroom.com

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