Chad and Linda Osguthorpe of Millard County were the winners of the Utah Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher ‘Achievement Award’. The award was presented at the recent Utah Farm Bureau Annual Convention and is considered the top honor for young farmers and ranchers in Utah.

The Achievement Award is a competition that recognizes those young farmers and ranchers that have excelled in their farming or ranching operations and honed their leadership abilities to superiority.

“This was a thrill to win this award,” said Chad Osguthorpe. “I am grateful for all Farm Bureau has offered our family through education, experiences and training, and we’re excited to represent our county and state at the national level.”

The contestants are evaluated on a combination of their farming operation growth and financial progress of operation, Farm Bureau leadership and leadership outside of Farm Bureau. More specifically, the judges look for excellence in management, growth and scope of the enterprise and self-initiative that are displayed throughout the operation.

The Osguthorpe family lives in Hinckley, where they own and operate J12 Ranch & Livestock. Chad and Linda own 1,200 head of sheep and farm 700 acres in Delta, growing alfalfa, grain, and corn.

Chad and Linda have one daughter, and another baby on the way. Chad & Linda are strong advocates for agriculture and help those in her community and abroad to become familiar with how food gets on their plate, and how clothing made with wool.

The Osguthorpes, representing the Millard County Farm Bureau, competed with six other finalists from around the state for the award. They received a 2017 John Deere Gator ATV courtesy of John Deere and Stotz Equipment, an insurance policy for the ATV from Farm Bureau Financial Services, and an expense-paid trip in January to the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting in Nashville.

“We love the many opportunities we have to engage with those not familiar with agriculture, and share with them the many lessons that apply to everyone,” said Linda Osguthorpe. “We feel fortunate to live in this great part of our state and to interact with many great farmers and ranchers, and look forward to learning from others across the country.”

Chad and Linda will compete at the American Farm Bureau annual convention against Achievement Award winners from across the nation. National winners of the Achievement Award will have their choice of a 2018 Ford truck and paid registration to the AFBF YF&R Leadership Conference in Reno, Nevada on Feb.16-19, 2018. The Achievement Award truck is provided courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance.

The runners-up (second place) of the YF&R Achievement Award will each receive a Case IH Farmall 50A tractor, courtesy of Case IH. Other finalists will receive prizes courtesy of Case IH and Stanley Black & Decker.