The Iowa Farm Bureau will recognize outstanding young farm­ers and select the state Discussion Meet winner during its 2017 annual meeting Dec. 5-6 at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines.

The young farmer awards, sponsored by John Deere, will be presented during an evening dinner and gala Dec. 5 starting at 5:30 p.m. The awards will include the Young Farmer Achievement Award and the Young Farmer Discussion Meet winner. In addition, the 2017 Young Farmer Leadership Award winner, Beth Rachut of Mitchell County, will be recognized.

As the winner of the leadership award, Rachut will receive a John Deere home and workshop certificate, valued at $1,500, and a $750 Fast Stop gift card. In addition, she will receive an expense-paid trip to the 2018 American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) annual meeting in Nashville and the 2018 Growmark annual meeting.

Achievement award

This year’s Young Farmer Achievement Award finalists are Ben Klocke of Carroll County and Dustin and Shana Johnson of Clinton County.

The Achievement Award winner will receive a John Deere tractor/loader combo (5 Series-7 Series) for one year or a 300-hour lease, or a John Deere Gator. In addition, the winner will receive a 90-day no principle, no interest (NPNI) John Deere Financial Certificate, up to $5,000.

The winner will also represent Iowa in the national Young Farmer Achievement Award competition at the 2018 AFBF annual meeting in Nashville. The national Achievement Award winner will receive a Ford truck (valued at $35,000), sponsored by Southern Farm Bureau Life, Farm Bureau Financial Services and Country Financial.

Discussion Meet

The Young Farmer Discussion Meet will be held Tuesday, Dec. 5, starting with the semi-finals at 3:30 p.m. and the finals at 4:30 p.m.

Discussion Meet contestants are Daniel Bolin, Butler County; Randall Francois, Delaware Coun­ty; Ryan Borcherding, Frank­lin County; Justine Stevenson, Marion County; Brett Peelen, O’Brien County; Mitchell Hora, Washington County; and Jessica Tekippe, Winneshiek County.

The Discussion Meet winner will receive a John Deere X380 riding lawn mower; a 90-day NPNI John Deere Financial Certificate, up to $5,000; and an expense-paid trip to the 2018 Growmark annual meeting in Chicago.

The winner will also represent Iowa at the national Young Farmer Discussion Meet at the 2018 AFBF annual meeting in Nashville. The national winner will receive a Ford truck (valued at $35,000), sponsored by Southern Farm Bureau Life, Farm Bureau Financial Services and Country Financial.

For more information about the 2017 Iowa Farm Bureau annual meeting, visit www.iowafarmbureau.com.