Nov. 1, 2013

Gainesville, Fla. – Dairy farmers Jacob and Danielle Larson of Okeechobee County received the 2013 Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement in Agriculture Award at the Florida Farm Bureau’s 2013 annual meeting in Ponte Vedra Beach on Oct. 23.
The Larsons are third generation dairy farmers responsible for the management of a 2,700-acre cow dairy farm and a 1,350-acre beef cattle ranch operation.
Jacob and Danielle were judged on their farm operation and growth, the financial progress of their operation and their Farm Bureau and community leadership.
The husband and wife duo will represent Florida in the national competition at the American Farm Bureau’s annual meeting in San Antonio in January. As the state winners, the Larsons will receive an all-expense paid trip to the event, a $500 check and a 2014 Chevy Silverado 4×4 Crew Cab pick-up truck, courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Companies.
Trevor Bass, owner of Bass Farms of Alachua County and Kyle and Marissa Story, Polk County citrus producers, were finalists for this prestigious award. They each received a $1000 check, also courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Life.
Applicants must be between the ages of 18-35 and be full-time agricultural producers. Finalists are evaluated on the financial stability and development of their respective farm enterprises as well as their leadership in Farm Bureau and their local communities.