Growing Leaders, Harvesting Skill
The Kentucky YFA contests are designed to propel young farmers toward excellence through competitive learning. These contests are not just about winning; they are a platform for developing the leadership, critical thinking, and technical production skills necessary to thrive in modern agriculture. Join a community of forward-thinking farmers and showcase your dedication to the future of Kentucky farming.
Leadership Contests
Display your passion and advancement of agriculture through our leadership contest.Â
Leadership Contests
Display your passion and advancement of agriculture through our leadership contests.
Rural Leadership Award recognizes the individual who demonstrates a desire to learn more about the agriculture industry and serves in local and state leadership roles.
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State Degree Awards recognize members who have participated at the local and state level for at least three years.
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Conservation and Water Quality Awards  promotes soil conservation and water quality among the membership of the Kentucky Young Farmer Association by attaining economical yields while protecting the resource base.
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Lead the Direction
State Degree Awards recognize members who have participated at the local and state level for at least three years.
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Chapter Award recognizes the local chapter that has the most YFA meetings, completes the most community activities, and has the most new members.Â
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Honorary Member of the Year recognizes a person who has helped promote and grow the YFA organization.Â
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Lead the People
Lead the Conversation
The Kentucky YFA Spokesperson Contest recognize individuals who demonstrate exceptional skills in public speaking providing a platform to build professional confidence and effectively advocate for the farming community. Winners participate in the national competition held at the National Young Farmer Education Association conference.
2026 Member of the Year
Each year since 1960, the Kentucky Young Farmers Association has recognized a member of our association who embodies the principles on which we were founded. The Member of the Year is awarded to the most outstanding member of our association based on his/her farming or agricultural related operation, farming records, and his/her participation in the Kentucky Young Farmer Association and other local and state leadership activities. It is the highest honor awarded each year by our association and those past winners include an outstanding collection of members.
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This year’s sponsors are: AgRevolution and Hagans Outdoor Equipment
Member of the Year Award
2026 Member of the Year Runner-Up
Ready to Participate?
Join us for the 2027 season. Contest applications will be available early 2027.
Production Contests
Grain Crops
      Corn
         White Corn           Â
         Yellow Corn          Â
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      Wheat                Â
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      Soybeans
         Bottom Land         Â
         Double Crop          Â
         Upland        Â
Tobacco
Burley               Â
Dark Air Cured         l
Dark Fire Cured        Â
Tobacco Production
Diversified Production
     Crop                Â
         Farming              Â
         Livestock             Â
Agriculture Mechanics
     Production            Â
         Feeders             Â
Beef Production
     Production           Â
         Heifer               Â
Dairy Production
Alfalfa               Â
         Alfalfa Mixed          Â
         Mixed Grass          Â
         Straw                Â
Hay Production
Elevate your production standards by participating in livestock and crop yield/profit contests.Â
Excel applications will be available early 2027.
Jimmy Robertson was a charter member of the Livingston County Young Farmers in the 1970s. He was instrumental in getting the group started by approaching the high school agriculture teacher, Joe Knoth, about starting classes for farmers. Jimmy once stated that the teacher was apprehensive about the interest in a class but agreed to try it. Jimmy stated that the classroom was nearly full on the first night of class and it continued. Jimmy continued to attend classes and maintained his YFA membership until he was in his late 80s.
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Jimmy & his wife Nellie operated a farm in the Iuka community of Livingston County near the Cumberland River. They had 2 sons, Jerry & Barry both of which continue to work in agriculture today. Jimmy and his sons raised hogs, cattle and row crops at various times. Jimmy also worked as a heavy equipment operator in the coal mines of West Kentucky until his retirement. Jimmy & Nellie loved to travel, highlighted by a road trip to Alaska some years ago.
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Jimmy passed away in May of 2024 just short of his 90th birthday. His wife Nellie preceded him in death in 2022. In honor of Jimmy the Livingston County Young Farmers decided to pay Jimmy’s lifetime membership this year, and the YFA Board voted to honor Jimmy at the 68th Annual Convention.
2026 Honorary Member of the Year
The Circle of Success
2026 Winners
Will Edwards, Marshall
Steve Edwards, Marshall
Dan Inglish, Marshall
Kevin McClard, Marshall
Russ Allen, Livingston
Adam Barnes, Livingston
Larry Davis, Livingston
Debi Davis, Livingston
Christian Arnold, Bourbon
Christina Grey, Hardin
Ag Mechanics
Brandon Mohler Marshall County, Purchase
Matthew Crain Hardin County, Lincoln Trail
Cole Hamilton Daviess County, Green River
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Beef Feeder Production
Charles Thorn Marshall County, Purchase
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Beef Production
Nick Gibson Marshall County, Purchase
Casey Chittenden Livingston Central, Pennyrile
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Burley Tobacco
David Crouch Calloway County, Purchase
Chet Wright Jessamine County, Bluegrass
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Dark Air Cured Tobacco
Kelly Overbey Calloway County, Purchase
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Dark Fire Cured Tobacco
Jeremy Carraway Calloway County, Purchase
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Diversified Crop Production
Sloan Seibert Marshall County, Purchase
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Diversified Livestock Production
Jordan Goode Daviess County, Green River
Nick Gibson Marshall County, Purchase
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Hay Production- Alfalfa
Larry Davis Livingston County, Pennyrile
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Hay Production- Alfalfa Mixed
Larry Davis Livingston County, Pennyrile
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Hay Production-Non Alfalfa
Jennifer Daniels Marshall County, Purchase
Larry Davis Livingston County, Pennyrile
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Soil/Water Conservation
Larry Davis Livingston County, Pennyrile
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Soybeans- Double Crop
Matt Crain Hardin County, Lincoln Trail
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Soybeans- Upland
Casey Chittenden Livingston Central, Pennyrile
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Straw
Matt Crain Hardin County, Lincoln Trail
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White Corn
Austin Glenn Daviess County, Green River
Casey Chittenden Livingston Central, Pennyrile
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Yellow Corn
Cole Hamilton Daviess County, Green River
Matt Crain Hardin County, Lincoln Trail
Casey Chittenden Livingston Central, Pennyrile
Ag Mechanics
Brandon Mohler Marshall County, Purchase
Matthew Crain Hardin County, Lincoln Trail
Cole Hamilton Daviess County, Green River
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Beef Feeder Production
Charles Thorn Marshall County, Purchase
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Beef Production
Nick Gibson Marshall County, Purchase
Jay Middleton WAVE Ag, Purchase
Casey Chittenden Livingston Central, Pennyrile
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Burley Tobacco
David Crouch Calloway County, Purchase
Chet Wright Jessamine County, Bluegrass
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Dark Air Cured Tobacco
Kelly Overbey Calloway County, Purchase
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Dark Fire Cured Tobacco
Jeremy Carraway Calloway County, Purchase
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Diversified Crop Production
Sloan Seibert Marshall County, Purchase
Jonathan Reynolds WAVE AG, Purchase
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Diversified Livestock Production
Jordan Goode Daviess County, Green River
Nick Gibson Marshall County, Purchase
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Hay Production- Alfalfa
Larry Davis Livingston County, Pennyrile
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Hay Production- Alfalfa Mixed
Larry Davis Livingston County, Pennyrile
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Hay Production-Non Alfalfa
Jennifer Daniels Marshall County, Purchase
Larry Davis Livingston County, Pennyrile
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Soil/Water Conservation
Larry Davis Livingston County, Pennyrile
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Soybeans- Double Crop
Matt Crain Hardin County, Lincoln Trail
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Soybeans- Upland
Casey Chittenden Livingston Central, Pennyrile
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Straw
Matt Crain Hardin County, Lincoln Trail
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White Corn
Austin Glenn Daviess County, Green River
Casey Chittenden Livingston Central, Pennyrile
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Yellow Corn
Cole Hamilton Daviess County, Green River
Austin Glenn Daviess County, Green River
Matt Crain Hardin County, Lincoln Trail
Casey Chittenden Livingston Central, Pennyrile
Chapter Contest
Marshall County, Purchase
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Rural Leadership
Lauren Gibson Marshall County, Purchase
Sidney Johnson Christian County, Pennyrile
Chapter Contest
Marshall County, Purchase
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Rural Leadership
Lauren Gibson Marshall County, Purchase
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Spokesperson Contest
Colson Pierce Rockcastle County, Kentucky River Region