The closing general session of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) annual meeting is the time for awards and entertainment.

The organization’s highest honor, the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award, was presented to University of Illinois agriculture professor Robert Thompson. “An economist by trade, Robert Thompson’s heart and soul is agriculture,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “There is no doubt that American agriculture has benefited from the many roles Dr. Thompson has played over the past four decades.”

Currently serving as the Gardner Endowed Chair in Agriculture Policy at the University of Illinois, Dr. Thompson leads classes on agricultural development and food and agriculture policy, and is involved in Extension education, as well as research on U.S. competitiveness and trade.

The Young Farmer and Rancher (YF&R) awards are always highly anticipated since the final competition takes place during the annual meeting and there are so many great younger people involved in the organization. All of the top winners receive a 2011 Dodge Ram pickup, courtesy of Dodge, plus free registration to the 2011 AFBF YF&R Leadership Conference in February.

Paul and Monica Minzenmayer of Texas won the Achievement Award, which recognizes young farmers and ranchers who have excelled in their farming or ranching operations and exhibited superior leadership abilities. Runners-up were Matt DeBlock of Illinois, Steven and Richelle Bach of Kentucky, Brent and Susan Leggett of North Carolina and Brian Flowers of Tennessee who each received a Case IH Farmall tractor, courtesy of Case IH.

Colin Johnson of Iowa was the top winner in this year’s Discussion Meet. The three runners-up are Daniel Martin of Mississippi, Charlee Doom of New York and Loni H. Rikard of South Carolina. Each runner-up received a $6,000 Savings Bond and a STIHL Farm Boss chainsaw, both courtesy of STIHL.

Chris and Jennie Simms of Virginia won the Excellence in Agriculture Award, which recognizes young farmers and ranchers who do not derive the majority of their income from an agricultural operation, but who actively contribute and grow through their involvement in agriculture, their leadership ability and participation in Farm Bureau and other organizations. The three runners-up in the competition are Brian and Dacia Brown of Illinois, Ken and Malissa Schentzel of Minnesota and Shawn and Vanessa Duren of Tennessee, who also received a savings bond and chainsaw from STIHL.

2011 AFBF Annual Meeting Photo Album