Walker Bagley of Roosevelt, Utah was the winner of the Utah Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) ‘Excellence in Agriculture Award’. The award was presented at the recent Utah Farm Bureau Annual Convention and is considered a top honor for young farmers and ranchers in Utah.

The YF&R program helps young Farm Bureau members shape their future and American agriculture through leadership development and personal growth opportunities. Three competitions are held to enable members to showcase their leadership experience, communication skills, and successful business plans as they compete against the best of the best from each state Farm Bureau.

The Excellence in Agriculture award is a competition that was initiated several years ago to recognize young farmers and ranchers involved in agriculture, but who do not necessarily derive a majority of their income from an owned production agriculture operation.

“I am honored to win this award. I’m excited to represent our state at the national level,” said Bagley said. “My wife and I love being involved in agriculture and are always looking for new opportunities to grow personally.”

Representing the Duchesne County Farm Bureau, Walker competed with 12 other contestants for the award. For winning, Bagley received an ATV courtesy of Cache Valley  Bank and Karl Malone Plaza Cycle, and will receive an expense-paid trip to the national American Farm Bureau’s FUSION Conference in Denver this spring.

Walker will also compete at the American Farm Bureau (AFBF) annual convention against Excellence in Ag Award winners from across the nation. National winners of the award receive $35,000 credit towards a new Ford, courtesy of Ford. The runner-up receives $25,000 credit towards a new Case IH piece of equipment, courtesy of Case IH. Others receive prizes courtesy of Stanley Black & Decker.

“Participating in the Excellence award has been a great way to refine my goals and look for ways to positively impact agriculture in our state,” Bagley said. “I appreciate how it has encouraged me to be involved in supporting agriculture, off the farm and outside of work, and helped me grow professionally as an agricultural finance professional.”

Bagley works as an agricultural loan officer for Western AgCredit, serving farmers and ranchers around Roosevelt. He is farms with his with wife, Audree, raising cattle, and growing hay and corn, in addition to running a feedlot. 

Advocating for agriculture is nothing new for Walker, as he has been involved since his college days with the Utah Farm Bureau, as well as other groups such as Agriculture Future of America and the Utah Cattlemen’s Association.