SANDY, Utah. December 19, 2025 – Heather Thomson of Utah County 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.

Heather Thomson (center) receiving the Excellence in Ag award along with representatives from Utah Farm Bureau and Cache Valley Bank.

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,” Thomson said. “I love being involved in agriculture and am always looking for opportunities to help others join the ag industry.”

Representing the Utah County Farm Bureau, Thomson competed with nine other contestants for the award. For winning, Thomson received an ATV courtesy of Cache Valley Bank and Young Powersports Ogden and will receive an expense-paid trip to the American Farm Bureau’s national convention in Anaheim.

Thomson 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,” Thomson said. “I appreciate how it has encouraged me to be involved in supporting agriculture – both on the ranch and off – and helped me grow professionally as I work with young people in leadership development.”

Thomson is the 4-H program coordinator for Utah State University Extension in Utah County, but hails from a multi-generation ranch in Rich County. She has a deep passion for agricultural literacy and positive youth development, which shows in her work as Heather has developed impactful programs such as Cowboy Camp and The Horse Science Series, both of which have earned national recognition. In addition to her work with youth in agriculture, Heather is actively involved in the horse industry, as she was a member of the American Quarter Horse Association’s ‘Emerging Leader Class of 2025’ and was named the American Youth Horse Council, Horse Industry Professional of the Year in 2024.