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Texas Agriculture Archive

January 6, 2006

Contest winners named

Doug Lathem of Dalhart was named winner of Texas Farm Bureau's Outstanding Young Farmer & Rancher Contest at the state's largest farm organization's 72^nd annual convention held, held in Waco in December.

Lathem and his wife, Carol, grow seed milo, corn, cotton, wheat and cattle near Dalhart in Hartley County, and were chosen over two other finalists in the competition.

Lathem, who didn't grow up on a farm or ranch, has found his career in agriculture challenging, and intensely rewarding.

"I had some people tell me I couldn't make it, and I had some people that told me I could, and we just tried to focus on and surround ourselves with those people that said we could," he said. "We got in it, made it, and it's been very good."

Jay Davis of Grandview and Korvan Kreusler of New Braunfels were chosen as runners-up.

As winner, Lathem received the following prizes: Title to a 2006 Dodge Ram 3/4 ton 4x4 Quad Cab pickup with a Cummins diesel engine, courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company; 150 hours use of a Case IH tractor (winner selects from a 40 PTO horsepower up to 155 PTO horsepower tractor two-wheel drive or MFD front wheel drive assist), courtesy of Case IH; $500 cash award, courtesy of Dodge Trucks; plaque and belt buckle representative of the award; and transportation, two nights lodging and meals to the Texas Farm Bureau State Convention. He and his wife will also represent Texas in the American Farm Bureau Achievement Award competition in Nashville, Tenn., in January.

As runners-up, the Davises and Kreuslers received the following: Complimentary use of a 2006 3/4-ton Dodge 4x4 Quad Cab pickup from December 2005 through November 2006, courtesy of Dodge; a new pair of Justin Boots, compliments of Justin Brands, Inc.; plaque and belt buckle representative of the award; and transportation, two nights lodging and meals to the Texas Farm Bureau Convention.

Discussion Meet

Dierschke presents an award to Jay Davis as winner of the Discussion Meet.

Jay Davis of Grandview was named winner of the 2005 Discussion Meet. Davis, with his wife, Laura, is a partner in a farming, stocker cattle and trucking operation in Johnson County.

As winner, Davis will receive one year's use of a Kubota M Series tractor (45-65 horsepower) with a front end loader (two wheel or front wheel assist), courtesy of Kubota; an Arctic Cat 500 4X4, courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Life; a $500 cash award from Dodge; and an expense paid trip to compete in the national contest in Nashville, Tenn., in January.

Other finalists, who each received a $200 gift certificate and plaque representative of the award, courtesy of Grainger Industrial Supply, were: Joy Davis, Grandview (Johnson County); July Danley, Stephenville (Erath County); Brent Carlson, Hereford (Hereford County); and Cody Bowman, Houston (Harris County).

Excellence in Agriculture

Dierschke presents an award to Excellence in Agriculture contest winner July Danley.

July Danley, executive director of the TriCounty Agribusiness Association, was named the winner of Texas Farm Bureau's 2005 Excellence in Agriculture Award.

Danley promotes the importance of agriculture on the economy through public relations efforts in Erath, Comanche and Hamilton counties of Central Texas.

The runners-up were Will and Becky Coward of Gatesville and Charlie and Holly Rand of Tyler.

As winner of the contest, Danley received one year's use of a 2006 3/4 ton Dodge 4 x 4 Quad Cab pickup; an expense paid trip to Nashville, Tenn. to compete in the national award competition at AFBF's annual convention; and $500 cash, courtesy of Dodge.

The runners-up received a $200 gift certificate to Grainger Industrial Supply, courtesy of Grainger; and a new pair of Justin boots, courtesy of Justin Brands, Inc.

Each finalist also received a $50 gift certificate for any Am-Pac product, courtesy of Am-Pac, and expenses paid to the convention.