Awards highlight Farm Bureau’s Officers & Leaders conference

Tyler and Randi McDonald of Springhill and Michael and Lauren Lee of Conway earned the top Young Farmers & Ranchers awards Monday at Arkansas Farm Bureau’s 70^th Officers & Leaders Conference at the John Q. Hammons Convention Center in Rogers.

McDonald, 30, and Randi, 29, grabbed the YF&R Achievement Award. The couple farms in Lewisville in Lafayette County. The McDonalds farm is diversified. They have four broiler houses, raise and sell pecans, run a custom hay operation along with a custom Bermuda sprig operation, and raise cattle on their own and in partnership with Tyler’s father. Award candidates are judged on their leadership abilities and involvement in Farm Bureau and their local community.

“We’re honored and excited,” McDonald said. “I didn’t think we had a chance when we applied for the award. It’s unbelievable.”

The McDonalds won $35,000 courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Co. and an expense-paid trip to New Orleans in January to represent Arkansas at the American Farm Bureau annual conference. The Achievement Award recognizes young farmers and ranchers who have excelled in their farming/ranching operations and exhibited outstanding leadership abilities. The McDonalds have three children: Hunter, Skyler and River.

Runners-up for the award were Chase and Crystal Groves of Garland City and David and Brittany Carwell of Cherry Valley. The Groves raise Simmental-Angus cattle; grow hay, pecans, corn, soybeans; and operate a custom application business. The Carwells raise cattle and also run a commercial lab that tests cattle, goats and sheep for pregnancy, handles ruminant embryo transfers and tests for ruminant diseases. Both couples received $5,000.

Michael and Lauren Lee won the YF&R Excellence in Ag Award. The Lees raise beef cattle in Faulkner County where Michael, 33, works fulltime on the farm. Lauren, 31, is an account director for a marketing agency. The couple sells beef directly to the consumer through farmers’ markets and social media.

The Lees received an $11,000 check for winning courtesy of Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. and PCI Publishing Co. They will also represent Arkansas on an expense-paid trip to the American Farm Bureau convention in New Orleans next January. The Lees have two daughters, Mary Elliott and Adelaide Grace.

“It means everything to us,” Michael said. “Farm Bureau gives us a great platform. We’re not only advocating for the greatest industry in the world, but we’re also educating people. This award means everything to us, and Farm Bureau has opened so many doors for us. I couldn’t have done it without Lauren and the kids.”

Arkansas Farm Bureau is a nonprofit, private advocacy organization with almost 191,000 families throughout the state working to improve farm and rural life.

For more information, contact:

Rob Anderson
(501) 228-1640
rob.anderson@arfb.com

or

Gregg Patterson
(501) 228-1282
gregg.patterson@arfb.com

 Click on the photos to download a high-res version.

Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach (l), the McDonald family and Arkansas Farm Bureau Vice President Rich Hillman (r).

Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach (l), the Lee family and Arkansas Farm Bureau Vice President Rich Hillman (r).