Feed store, pecan orchard owners honored as Excellence in Agriculture winners

WACO, Texas—For their dedication to helping the local agricultural community find exactly what it needs, Ryan and Santanna Bay of Gatesville have been selected as the winners of this year’s Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) Excellence in Agriculture (EIA) contest.

The Bays manage their family-owned feed and supply store, Coryell Feed and Supply, in Gatesville. They also own a pecan orchard and a small herd of mixed commercial cattle. They have one son, Greyson.

The couple was selected from a pool of three finalists that included Joe Barbour of Florence and Brandon and Dana Joy of Plainview.

The EIA contest recognizes young men and women who are involved in agriculture but do not earn their primary income directly from their own farm or ranch enterprises.

“The contributions to agriculture of all three of our Excellence in Agriculture finalists are immense," TFB President Kenneth Dierschke said. “We’re pleased to honor these young men and women for their commitment to Texas farmers and ranchers.”

The Bays will receive a $5,000 cash award, courtesy of Farm Credit; an Arctic Cat 500 4X4, courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company; and a plaque and belt buckle representative of the award.

They also will receive an expense-paid trip to represent Texas in the national competition at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) Annual Meeting Jan. 13-16, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn.

This year’s EIA runners-up will receive a new pair of Justin Boots, courtesy of Justin Brands Inc., and a $200 power tool, courtesy of Grainger.

The winner of the AFBF’s Excellence in Agriculture contest will receive their choice of either a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado or 2013 GMC Sierra, courtesy of GM, and paid registration to the 2013 YF&R Leadership Conference Feb. 8-11 in Phoenix, Ariz. Three national runners-up will receive a Case IH Farmall 45A, courtesy of Case IH, and a $2,500 cash prize and a STIHL Farm Boss, courtesy of Stihl. line-height:200%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>The Patschkes and Sparks each will receive a new pair of Justin boots, courtesy of Justin Brands, Inc.; a power tool valued at $200, courtesy of Grainger; and a plaque and belt buckle representative of their accomplishment.

The Bowers will go on to represent Texas at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) Annual Meeting Jan. 13-16, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn.

The winner of the Achievement Award at the AFBF meeting in January will receive a 2013 GMC Silverado or 2013 GMC Sierra, courtesy of GM, and paid registration to the 2013 Leadership Conference Feb. 8-11 in Phoenix, Ariz. The three national runners-up will receive a Case IH Farmall 65A, courtesy of Case IH, and a $2,500 cash prize and a STIHL Farm Boss, courtesy of STIHL.