Indiana family wins national young farmer award, plus a CaseIH tractor

Dale and Lisa Koester, a Wadesville, Indiana couple, won more than accolades in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) 2004 Outstanding Young Farmer and Rancher Achievement Awards ceremony. They also took home a new DX33 Farmall tractor provided by Case IH, an achievement award sponsor.

“Dale and Lisa represent the bright future of American agriculture,” says Dave Dell, senior director of marketing for Case IH under 100 horsepower tractors. “They combine community involvement, a commitment to agriculture and farm management savvy – essential characteristics of outstanding farmers. Case IH is honored to be associated with innovative leaders like the Koesters.”

The Koester family, including the two children Travis and Lindsey, picked up their Farmall tractor from local Case IH dealer, J & L Farm Equipment of Poseyville, Indiana, which also will provide tractor support. In addition, the family received a Farmall pedal tractor for the children to enjoy.

Yellow and white corn, soybeans, wheat, and alfalfa are grown on the Koester farm which also includes a swine and dairy operation. Round bales of straw are sold to a local factory that produces erosion control blankets. In addition, Lisa manages a farm consulting business. The family hosts tours of the farm for area school children.

To be eligible for the AFBF Achievement Award, Farm Bureau members must be between the ages of 18 and 35. Five winners are chosen after an extensive screening process that begins at the county level throughout the U.S.

County winners compete in state and regional judging, and 35 finalists are narrowed to five by a panel of judges. Scoring is based on leadership in the community, the quality of the farm, or ranch, and the operation’s development or improvement.

Besides the Koesters, three other 2004 Achievement Award winners were presented with a Farmall tractor. They include:

• Kent and Joy Bauman - Otway, Ohio
• Michael and Sarah Ver Steeg - Inwood, Iowa
• Chris and Anna Rawl - Lexington, South Carolina

The grand prize winners in the AFBF Achievement Award competition, John and Dana Butler, were awarded a pickup truck. Winners were announced at the AFBF’s 85th annual convention in Honolulu.