November 2024
Florida Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers state award winners have been named for the Achievement in Agriculture, Excellence in Agriculture and Discussion meet competitions. The winners will compete on a national level at the American Farm Bureau Annual Convention in San Antonio, TX in January 2025.
Achievement in Agriculture
Brandt and Samantha Hendricks are third generation farmers of Hendricks & Son Farms. They grow cotton, peanuts and hay and raise direct-to-consumer beef cattle. The couple served on the YF&R State Leadership Group and are active Farm Bureau members in Santa Rosa County.
The couple received a $45,000 cash prize, courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Companies and a $500 cash award.
Excellence in Agriculture
Marshal and Taylor Sewell of Levy County are the founders of Mind Your Melon Foundation, which is dedicated to mental health advocacy and awareness. The couple works within the agriculture industry and are actively involved within Farm Bureau, serving on the county, state and national level with American Farm Bureau.
The couple received a John Deere vehicle courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company and a $500 cash award.
Discussion Meet
Chad Haas graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in business management, which he used to open his own real estate company, Palmetto Realty, that focuses on rural land and homes. He is a lifelong resident of West Volusia County where he enjoys spending time outdoors and in his local community with his wife and daughter.
Haas received a John Deere XUV 560 courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Company and a $500 cash award.
The state winners of all the competitions will receive an expense-paid trip to compete for a national title at the 2025 American Farm Bureau Annual Convention in San Antonio, TX, Jan. 24-28, 2025.