Excellence in Agriculture Award

Young Farmers & Ranchers: Leadership Conference Achievement Award Excellence in Agriculture Award Discussion Meet Committee of the Year Spotlight Meet Your YF&Rs Calendar of Events YF&R Gives Back Request Information

Deadline: July 12, 2013 4:00 p.m.

Download Application Form
Excellence Application (PDF, 232 KB)

The Excellence in Agriculture Award is designed as an opportunity to recognize Young Farmers & Ranchers who do not derive the majority of their income from an owned agricultural operation. Award winners contribute and grow through their involvement in Farm Bureau and agriculture. Participants are judged on their involvement in agriculture, leadership ability, involvement and participation in Farm Bureau and other organizations (i.e., civic, service and community).

Prizes

First place wins $4,000 and a trip to the national AFBF Annual Meeting
Second place wins $1,000

Congratulations Betsy Karle

Betsy Karle, with her family receives her award at the 2012 CFBF Annual Meeting.

Betsy Karle, recipient of the California Young Farmers and Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture award, is a dairy program representative with UC Cooperative Extension in Glenn County and also serves as a junior specialist within the UC Davis plant sciences department. A mother of two young children, Karle serves actively in agricultural education activities through the county fair and serves as an unofficial liaison between the Glenn County Farm Bureau and the local 4-H program.

"When our agricultural community joins forces, we have been and will continue to be an exceptional resource for agriculture education in our community," Karle wrote.

Karle has a master's degree in agro-ecology and lives in Orland with her husband, veterinarian Michael Karle. The couple are partners in his veterinary practice and raise registered Holstein dairy cattle and Angus beef cattle.

For her award, Karle earns a $4,000 cash prize. Contest sponsors include Cathie and Dick Bradley, the California Association of Pest Control Advisers, Farm Credit West, CoBank, American AgCredit and State Compensation Insurance Fund.

Karle will represent California in national competitions to be held next month at the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting in Nashville.