Texas Farm Bureau announces Excellence in Agriculture finalists

WACO, Texas—Three men have been selected as finalists in this year’s Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) Excellence in Agriculture (EIA) contest. TFB’s EIA award recognizes young men and women who are involved in agriculture but do not earn their primary income from a farm or ranch enterprise.

This year’s EIA finalists are Joe Barbour of Florence, Ryan and Santanna Bay of Gatesville and Brandon and Dana Joy of Plainview.

“These young men and women play a vital role in supporting Texas farmers and ranchers,” said TFB President Kenneth Dierschke. “Although they do not make their primary living on a farm or ranch, they serve the agricultural community and provide invaluable services. We appreciate their hard work and dedication.”

The winner will be announced at the TFB annual meeting in Waco, Dec. 1-3.

Joe Barbour, 25, is an agriculture science teacher at Florence High School, where he also is the director of the meat science program. Barbour works to prepare students for a lifetime of positive choices through agriculture that can lead to future careers and positive advocates for the agricultural world. He also owns several hundred head of cattle in the Texas Panhandle.

Ryan and Santanna Bay, 28 and 27 respectively, own and operate Coryell Feed and Supply in Gatesville, where they assist people with animal health issues, supplemental feeding programs and basic animal care and maintenance. The couple also maintains a small herd of cattle and a pecan orchard. The Bays have one son.

Brandon and Dana Joy, 32 and 31 respectively, own and operate Tri-Star Chemical in Plainview, where they provide herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and agronomic advice to farmers and ranchers. Joy also owns and operates a farm and ranch to produce grazing for his stocker/feeder cattle operation. The couple has three children.

The TFB EIA winner 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.

The winner also will receive an expense-paid trip to represent Texas at the national competition during the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) annual meeting Jan. 13-16 in Nashville, Tenn.

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

All three finalists will receive an expense-paid trip to the TFB annual meeting.