2026 Achievement Award Application
PURPOSE
Recognize young farmers/ranchers for their achievements in production agriculture and leadership. The winners of the state contest will represent California Farm Bureau and California YF&R at the national contest in January in Charlotte, North Carolina.
ELIGIBILITY
The Achievement Award is for an individual or couple involved in production agriculture with a majority of his/her gross income subject to farm and/or ranch risks. An applicant can be either an individual or a couple that is married or has similar legal rights under the law applicable to the state Farm Bureau organization. Applicant(s) shall be a Farm Bureau member(s) between 18 and 35 in good standing with his/her county Farm Bureau. The individual or spouse/spousal-equivalent shall have reached his/her 18th birthday at the time he/she qualifies for the national competition and shall not have reached his/her 36th birthday by Jan. 1 2027.Applicant(s) must be actively engaged in farming and/or ranching, with the majority of his/her gross income coming from production agriculture. Applicant(s) must have at least three years of financial records showing that the majority of income came from production agriculture. Applicant(s) may only compete in one national YF&R Competition per year. Past and present members of the AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee and/or their spouses are not eligible to compete. Previous AFBF Achievement Award competitors are not eligible to compete. Past state YF&R Achievement Award winners are eligible if they have not previously competed at the national level. Current employees or agents of county, state and/or the American Farm Bureau organizations and their affiliates are not eligible to compete. An affiliate is defined as an entity owned or controlled in whole or in part by another entity through, for example, ownership (including partial ownership) or positions on the board of directors. Past employees who were responsible for implementing any of the YF&R Competitive Events at the state or national level are ineligible.
ENTRY FORM AND APPLICATION GUIDLINES
Do not use the applicant’s name, his/her county, or any names that may bring about the recognition or identification of the applicant’s county beyond the entry form. The entry form and application must be completed in first person narrative (i.e. I, me, we, etc.) for questions 1-9 and 13. “A1”/“A2” may not be used for questions 1-9. Applicants must use “A1”/“A2” to denote each applicant for all of question 10-12.Do not use abbreviations or acronyms. Application must be submitted via online platform, JotForm.
JUDGING
A panel of qualified judges will select the state winner. Competitors will be invited for an interview that will be up to 15 minutes in length and are intended to answer questions that may arise from the written application. If a competitor is not available to interview in person, there will be an option to interview via video conference. Interviews will be held in mid-September in Sacramento, CA.
Deadline
DEADLINE TO APPLY: AUGUST 31
Primary Applicant* (required)
First Name
Last Name
Phone* (required)
Please enter a valid phone number
Format: (000) 000-0000.
Email* (required)
example@example.com
Date of Birth* (required)
Secondary Applicant (if applicable)
First Name
Last Name
Phone
Please enter a valid phone number
Format: (000) 000-0000.
Email
example@example.com
Date of Birth
Address* (required)
Street Address
Street Address Line 2
City
State / Province
Postal / Zip Code
Farm Bureau Membership #* (required)
County of Membership* (required)
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1. PERSONAL BACKGROUND
a. Describe your personal background, including your family, education and personal interests: (2,000 characters)* (required)
b. Describe your farm/ranch including how you acquired it, acres owned and rented, years in operation, crops and livestock. (2,000 characters)* (required)
c. List any other related business enterprises and their relationship to/importance in the total farm/ranch. (1,500 characters)* (required)
d. Describe how you advocate for agriculture. (1,500 characters)* (required)
2. SCOPE OF FARM OR RANCH
a. Explain the ownership structure of your farm/ranch and your vested interest. Please include detail regarding all enterprises in your explanation, if applicable. (2,000 characters)* (required)
b. What percentage of the farm/ranch management decisions are you responsible for? Please break down for each enterprise, if applicable. (1,250 characters – 10 lines)
c. Add any additional information that helps explain the previous two responses, if needed. (1,000 characters)
d. Describe your role in the operation. Explain specifically your duties and decision-making responsibilities. (2,000 characters)
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3. GROWTH AND ACHIEVEMENTS
a. Tell the story of your farm growth since your first year of owning/managing your farm/ranch. Where were you then and where are you now? Use specific examples to show how your operation has grown and highlight your contributions to the success of the operation over time. (3,000 characters)
b. List and describe any production efficiency growth you have achieved since your first year of owning/managing your farm/ranch. (2,500 characters)* (required)
4. MANAGEMENT DECISIONS
a. Explain how your understanding of the market has led you to create strategies that make your operation thrive and ensure its success now and into the future. Discuss up to two impactful strategic or management decisions you have made on your farm/ranch, why you made them, and the changes that resulted from implementing those decisions. (3,500 characters)
5. GOALS & PLANNING
What short-term and long-term goals do you have for your farm/ranch? Explain how you plan to achieve these goals. (2,500 characters)
6. RESILIENCY
a. Describe any major business challenges your farm/ranch has encountered and what you did to overcome them. (policy, financial, family, management, etc.) (2,000 characters)
b. Describe the transition or succession plan(s) you have for your farm/ranch. If you do not have either, please explain. (1,500 characters)* (required)
If you are selected as the 2026 Achievement Award winner, will you be willing to submit financial information to the CAFB Program Director for your AFBF application?
Yes
No
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7. FINANCIAL SUCCESS: Part 1 - Please answer the questions below related to your financial situation on your farm / ranch.
NOTE: In considering financial situation, judges will consider the whole application and how the financials are connected to the history, goals and strategies of the farm/ranch. Financials are not to be evaluated independent of the other sections.
a. Using the grid above as an example, please show your debt-to-asset ratio, including farm/ranch/personal debts and assets for each year requested: (Start with first year of operation and then end with Current year projection)
Please indicate whether the above reflects:
the portion of the farm/ranch you own, as indicated in 2(a).
the portion of the farm/ranch for which you make management decisions if more than the amount you own, as indicated in 2(b)
Give an explanation of related irregularities or strategies, if needed: (1,000 characters)
TOTAL INCOME = Farm/Ranch Income + All other income related to the farm/ranch business(es)
b. Using the grids above as an example, please show total farm/ranch income, expenses and net profit for each year requested. This should reflect anything related to the farm/ranch business(es) described in the application regardless of marketing practices, production methods or sources. (Start with first year of operation and then end with Current year projection)
Please indicate whether the above reflects:
the portion of the farm/ranch you own, as indicated in 2(a).
the portion of the farm/ranch for which you make management decisions if more than the amount you own, as indicated in 2(b)
Give an explanation of related irregularities or strategies, if needed: (1,000 characters)
8. FINANCIAL SUCCESS: Part 2
a. Describe the practices you use to evaluate the financial success of your farm/ranch, including ratios or analysis, record keeping systems and/or advisors used to support successful financial management. (2,000 characters)* (required)
b. Where do you see your greatest financial strengths and weaknesses in your farm/ranch business? (2,000 characters)* (required)
9. FINANCIAL SUCCESS: Part 3
a. Do you have any other farm/ranch business income not otherwise shown in the financials section (such as supporting agri-businesses)? If so, how is that income used? (1,000 characters)* (required)
b. Is any off-farm income earned by you or your spouse and how is that income used? (1,000 characters)
c. What additional income, if any, from inheritances, winnings, etc. did the applicant(s) accept and how is/was it used? (1,000 characters)
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10. LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE: FARM BUREAU (from age 18 to current)
Note: This applies to both applicants, if applying together. Please indicate A1 and A2 when applicable. List Farm Bureau leadership roles, recognitions and/or awards received by the applicant, including service on committees, boards or as officers. Please include years and level of involvement (county, state, national). Example: A1 – Elected President of the County Farm Bureau Board of Directors (2018-2019) (2,500 characters per section)
County Level: List Farm Bureau leadership roles, involvement opportunities, recognitions and/or awards received by the applicant(s), indicating service on committees, boards or as officers: (2,500 characters)
CFBF/AFBF Level: List Farm Bureau leadership roles, involvement opportunities, recognitions and/or awards received by the applicant(s), indicating service on committees, boards or as officers:(2,500 characters)
11. LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE: OTHER AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS (from age 18 to current)
List other agricultural leadership roles, recognitions and/or awards received by the applicant, including service on committees, boards or as officers (i.e. Farm Credit, Soil Conservation, Farm Service Agency, farm cooperatives, adult roles in 4-H or FFA) Example: A1 and A2 – 4-H, Serves as a 4-H Livestock Club Leader (2013 – present) (2,500 characters)
12. LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE: OTHER (from age 18 to current)
List other community and non-agricultural leadership roles, recognitions and/or awards received by the applicant, including service on committees, boards or as officers (i.e. Chamber of Commerce, civic/service clubs, church, school, scouts, coaching, etc.) Example: A1 – Local Elementary School, Served as Parent Teacher Association (PTA) President (2018-2020) (2,500 characters)
13. LEADERSHIP GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
a. Describe your most impactful leadership experience and any actions you have taken to better yourself as a leader or businessperson. (2,500 characters)
b. Describe your goals for leadership growth and development. (1,500 characters)
Do you acknowledge that you will need to participate in an interview with our judging panel at the CAFB office?
*
Yes
No
By signing below, I certify that all information provided in this application is true, accurate, and complete to the best of my knowledge.
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