Finalists vie for Outstanding Youth Farmer title

REGINA — The top two finalists for the 2014 Saskatchewan’s Outstanding Young Farmers’ (OYF) competition are: Aaron and Adrienne Ivey, mixed cattle and grain farm, Ituna; and Ryan and Leanne Thompson, owners of Living Sky Beef, Ceylon.

The two finalists now head to the provincial competition being held at the Hotel Saskatchewan in Regina from June 19-20 where their interview and presentation skills will be evaluated by a panel of judges.

Nominees are judged according to the following criteria: Progress made in their agriculture career; environmental and safety practices; crop and livestock production history; financial and management practices; and contributions to their community, province and country.

The winner will be announced at the Canada’s Farm Progress Show in Regina at an awards luncheon June 20. Among other prizes, the winner will receive a trip to the National Awards, to be held this November in Quebec City.

Saskatchewan’s OYF competition is sponsored by presenting sponsor Farm Credit Canada and platinum sponsors Canada’s Farm Progress Show, MNP, Monsanto, SaskCanola, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, TD Canada Trust, The Western Producer, and Viterra.

Now in its 34th year, Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers’ program is an annual competition to recognize young farmers who exemplify excellence in their profession and promote the contribution that agriculture makes to the country’s well-being.

Open to participants 18 to 39 years of age, who make the majority of income from onfarm sources, participants are selected from seven regions across Canada, with two national winners chosen each year. The program is sponsored nationally by CIBC, John Deere, Bayer CropScience, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and supported nationally by AdFarm and Farm Management Canada.

More information on the finalists can be found on the Saskatchewan OYF website at www.saskoyf.ca.