As part of its commitment to help farmers embrace the everyday challenges and opportunities of agriculture and encourage involvement and leadership within the industry, Case IH awarded brand new Farmall tractors to four American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Young Farmer & Rancher 2011 Achievement Awards finalists.

The four finalists, announced at the AFBF annual convention in Atlanta, Ga., were selected based on their demonstrated growth and financial success of their agricultural operations, as well as their Farm Bureau leadership and community involvement. To be eligible, participants had to win their state Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher Achievement Award competition.

The finalists were:
•    Steven and Richelle Bach, Owingsville, Ky.
•    Matt and Kim DeBlock, Aledo, Ill.
•    Brian Flowers, Lynnville, Tenn.
•    Brent and Susan Leggett, Nashville, N.C.

“The AFBF Young Farmer & Rancher Achievement Award recognizes those who have excelled in their farming or ranching operations and exhibited strong leadership in both Farm Bureau and their communities,” said Scott Raber, Case IH Manager of Livestock Marketing. “These four finalists truly demonstrate the kind of leadership that farmers need to meet the daily challenges of an ever-evolving agriculture industry — the same challenges Case IH is committed to meeting — and we’re proud to sponsor these leaders.”

Steven and Richelle Bach

Steven and Richelle Bach, of Owingsville, Ky., have a diverse agricultural enterprise that includes raising corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, peaches, apples, and asparagus, and providing custom planting and harvesting services. In addition, they also own a commercial cow/calf operation, a marketing enterprise, and a charter flying service.
To accommodate the needs of their farming operation, the Bachs made arrangements with their local Case IH dealer, Jacobi Sales, Inc. in Shelbyville, Ky., to put the value of the Farmall 31 towards a new Case SR200 skid steer. “We’re excited to receive the new Case skid steer, and with our diverse farming enterprise, we will have a use for it on a daily basis,” Steven explained.
   
Matt and Kim DeBlock

Matt DeBlock, from Aledo, Ill., is a fourth generation farmer who started his farming career before he graduated from the University of Illinois. Matt and Kim, along with their two daughters, Kaitlynn and Macy, farm 4,500 acres of corn, soybeans, and hay and raise 125 Angus cow/calf pairs in partnership with Matt’s dad and brother. In addition to the family farm, Matt runs a commodity brokerage business for local farmers and investors and recently started a commercial trucking business that hauls commodities for local elevators and retailers.

The DeBlock’s local Case IH dealer, Birkey’s Farm Store in Galesburg, Ill., delivered the Farmall tractor and will provide service and support. Matt said he has a long laundry list of uses for his new tractor. “Considering the cattle we have on the farm and the plot of timber on our land, not to mention all of the attachments you can use with it, we’ll get plenty of use from the new tractor,” he said.

Brian Flowers

Brian Flowers, from Lynnville, Tenn., developed a passion for dairy farming while growing up on his family's dairy farm. In 1996, at the age of 20, he started his own dairy farm, where he currently milks 100 Holstein cows and raises 95 replacement heifers, along with his commercial herd of 56 beef cows. Besides raising cattle, Brian also farms 1,380 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat, and hay.

Case IH awarded a new Farmall tractor to American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Young Farmer & Rancher 2011 Achievement Awards finalist, Brian Flowers of Lynnville, Tenn. Flowers stands next to his Farmall tractor, delivered by his local Case IH dealer, Perry Bros. Tractor Company Inc., in Lawrenceburg, Tenn.

Brian's local Case IH dealer, Perry Bros. Tractor Company, Inc. in Lawrenceburg, delivered the Farmall tractor and will provide service and support. He said he plans to use the tractor to scrape feed down the alleyway and aerate the bedding pack for his cows. "Everything I own is 100hp or more, so this smaller tractor will come in handy on the farm," he said.


Brent and Susan Leggett

Brent and Susan Leggett, farmers from Nashville, N.C., are first generation farmers who started their operation in 2005. They raise about 2,300 acres of tobacco, sweet potatoes, soybeans, pickling cucumbers, and cotton. They also started two you-pick strawberry stands and sell certified sweet potato seeds.

The Leggett’s local Case IH dealer, Lilley International, Inc. in Williamston, N.C., delivered the Farmall tractor and will provide service and support. “It’s an all-around small compact tractor and will be used for many things on the farm,” Brent said.