3 from Valley await results of Young Farmer contest

State winners will compete at the American Farm Bureau Federation convention in January.
CANFIELD -- Three young farmers from Mahoning County are awaiting the results of Ohio Farm Bureau contests, to be decided Nov. 29-30 at the Ohio Farm Bureau annual meeting in Columbus.
Pearle Burlingame, organization director of the Mahoning County Farm Bureau, said Jared Myers of Berlin Center is a Discussion Meet finalist and Howard and Tricia Withers of Petersburg are Young Farmer finalists. She said both contests are for young leaders in agriculture ages 18 to 35.
Four finalists in discussion group and young farmer categories are determined by Ohio Farm Bureau officials through an application and interview process, she said.
State winners advance to compete at the American Farm Bureau Federation convention in Salt Lake City in January.
Myers, a seed consultant and salesman; and a grain and beef farmer, will compete in the discussion meet Nov. 29, with results announced Nov. 30.
Burlingame said the discussion meet is not a debate, but a contest, which is an exercise in cooperative problem solving, designed to give experience in leading group discussions and chairing committees.
She said the semifinal contest had nine contestants in August who discussed the topic "How do current land prices and profitability affect production agriculture?"
In the final round Nov. 29, the discussion topic will be "How can American agriculture increase the opportunities for new uses of traditional agricultural products?"
The incentive
The winner will receive 1,500 and advance to the January American Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City. The AFBF winner will receive a fully loaded Dodge pickup truck.
Outstanding Young Farmer Awards are designed to recognize successful young farmers for achievement in business, farming and leadership in the agricultural community, Burlingame said.
One farmer and farm couple from each state region are honored at the annual meeting. The winners will be announced Nov. 30. State winners earn a trip to Washington, D.C., to meet American Farm Bureau leaders.
Howard and Tricia Withers of Petersburg continue the family's dairy tradition that started in 1916. The Witherses run a fourth-generation family farm and raise corn, wheat, soybeans, alfalfa and milk shorthorns.
Goals in mind
Their current goals are to build another silo, continue to control erosion and increase production of their steers. The Witherses have been active with Mahoning County Farm Bureau with Howard serving as Advisory Council chairman and a board member.
Howard also is a member of various agricultural groups, including Diary Herd Improvement and Corn Growers Association.
They will receive a chime clock as a semifinalist, and the state winner will receive 500 from Dodge and a trip to the AFBF annual meeting. The AFBF winner will receive 1,000 and the use of a Kubota tractor for one year.