Florida Young Farmers Travel to Salt Lake City for National Competitions 

November 2023

Florida Farm Bureau is looking forward to supporting our outstanding young farmer and rancher state winners as they advance to the national competitions in Salt Lake City, Utah at the American Farm Bureau Annual Convention, Jan. 19-24, 2024. The YF&R program helps young Farm Bureau members shape their future and American agriculture through leadership development and personal growth opportunities. 

John and Emilee Peterson of Baker County will compete for the Achievement in Agriculture award.
Bernie and Avery LeFils of Volusia County will compete for the Excellence in Agriculture award.
Erin Jones of Gilchrist County will compete in the AFBF Discussion Meet.

Three competitions enable members to showcase their leadership experience, communication skills and successful business plans as they compete against the best of the best from each state Farm Bureau.

The YF&R finalists representing Florida are:  

Achievement in Agriculture: John and Emilee Peterson of Baker County
Excellence in Agriculture: Bernie and Avery LeFils of Volusia County
Discussion Meet: Erin Jones of Gilchrist County

As part of the YF&R competitions, the top four competitors in the Achievement Award, Discussion Meet and Excellence in Ag areas will receive: Winner (First Place): $35,000 credit towards a new Ford vehicle and paid registration to the AFBF YF&R Leadership Conference in Omaha, Nebraska, courtesy of Ford. Runner-up (Second Place) receives: $25,000 credit towards new Case IH piece of equipment, courtesy of Case IH. Third Place receives: A $2,500 Investing in Your Future cash prize, courtesy of AmericanAg™, $2,500 worth of Stanley Black & Decker merchandise (PROTO, DeWalt, Stanley, Lenox & Irwin), courtesy of Stanley Black & Decker, plus a Case IH branded safe, courtesy of Case IH. Fourth Place receives: A Case IH branded Solo Stove®, courtesy of Case IH. 

We wish all of our Florida competitors good luck in the national competitions!