Stone family wins National Young Farmer award and CaseIH tractor

Michael "Bo" Stone and his wife, Missy, of Rowland, N.C., won more than accolades in the American Farm Bureau Federation's (AFBF) 2006 Outstanding Young Farmer and Rancher Achievement Awards ceremony. They also took home a new DX55 Farmall tractor and a Farmall pedal tractor, provided by Case IH, an Achievement Award sponsor.

"The DX55 matches the rest of our red equipment," says Stone, who farms 1,600 acres of row crop corn, soybeans and wheat in a family partnership. "Just about every tractor on our farm is a Case IH."

Meanwhile, Bo and Missy's daughters, four-year old Sarah Grace and three-year old Olivia, are making good use of the new Farmall pedal tractor. "They love it," he says. "They ride that one when Daddy won't ride them on any of the bigger tractors. I keep it at the shop, so they can play on it when they come up to visit me."

In addition to row crops, the Stone family's operation, P&S Farms Inc., involves finishing 10,000 hogs a year and growing 80 acres of flue-cured tobacco. "We also have about 70 head of beef cattle, and we dabble in produce," Stone adds. "We grow strawberries, sweet corn and pumpkins for our roadside stand. And we operate a corn maze during the fall."

A farming operation that diverse requires a lot of help, and P&S Farms is truly a family affair. Stone's father, Tommy, helps on the farm, while his mother, Bonnie, keeps the books. His wife, Missy, and sister, Laura Lynn Bailey, run the produce stand and the corn maze. In Stone's spare time, he serves on the Robeson County Farm Bureau board and the local school board. He's also a deacon of the First Baptist Church, and he coaches the boys' varsity basketball team at Avalon Academy. "In 2014, I'll resign from the boys team to coach my daughters," he jokes.

The AFBF Outstanding Young Farmer and Rancher Achievement Awards recognize young farmers and ranchers who excel in their farming or ranching operations and exhibit superior leadership abilities. "Bo and Missy represent the bright future of American agriculture," says Dave Dell, senior director of marketing for consumer and livestock products at Case IH. "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 such innovative ag leaders."

The couple received their Farmall DX55 and pedal tractor from their long-time Case IH dealer, Dillon Tractor & Implement in Dillon, S.C. The dealership also will provide tractor support. "I'm thankful to Case IH for their generous sponsorship," Stone adds. "And to Farm Bureau for giving us the opportunity to compete."

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 United States.

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 Stone family, three other 2006 Achievement Award winners were presented with a Case IH DX Series Farmall tractor and a Farmall pedal tractor. They include:

• Doug and Jean Morehouse of Brookston, Ind.
• Doug and Carol Lathen, Dalhart, Texas
• John "J" and Betsy Tucker, Prospect, Tenn.

The grand prize winners in the AFBF Achievement Award competition, Matt and Kellie Muller of Atlus, Okla., were awarded a pickup truck. Winners were announced at the AFBF's 87th annual convention in Nashville, Tenn.