Berry wins Texas Farm Bureau Excellence in Agriculture contest
(FRISCO, Texas)—Passion, dedication and commitment earned Cody Berry recognition as the winner of the 2023 Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) Excellence in Agriculture competition.
Berry is an agricultural science teacher and FFA advisor at Hudson ISD. He helps students learn through hands-on activities in the shop and through livestock projects, ag mechanics and FFA contests.
“Texas Farm Bureau is proud to recognize Cody for his dedication to agriculture,” TFB President Russell Boening said. “He is shaping the minds of the next generation in agriculture, playing a vital role in the advancement and promotion of agriculture, all while working to grow his own farm.”
Berry serves on the Angelina County Farm Bureau board of directors and is the Young Farmer & Rancher chair. He previously represented District 9 on TFB’s Young Farmer & Rancher Advisory Committee.
In addition to his career as a teacher, Berry is the secretary and president of the Executive Committee of the Area IX FFA Association. He is also a member of the board of directors for the Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas and serves on the Member Services and Finance and Investments committee.
Berry and his wife, Madisyn, have two daughters and own land in Angelina County. On their land, they recently harvested timber and hope to one day have their own cow-calf operation.
“Texas agriculture wouldn’t be a thriving industry without those like Cody who work in supporting fields,” Boening said. “As a teacher, Cody is essential to inspiring future agricultural leaders and helping students learn more about career opportunities within agriculture.”
State prizes
As the winner of the Excellence in Agriculture contest, Berry received a $15,000 member-dealer voucher to be used at Ford, Case IH, Grasshopper, CAT or John Deere, courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company; an engraved crystal award; and expense-paid trips to both the TFB Annual Meeting and American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention.
Other finalists in this year’s competition included Matthew March of Livingston and Jacob Spivey of Warren.
The two runners-up received a $1,000 cash award, courtesy of Farm Bureau Bank; a $500 cash award, courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company; and an expense-paid trip to the TFB Annual Meeting.
Berry will go on to represent Texas at the national American Farm Bureau Federation competition in January.
National prizes
The winner of the national Excellence of Agriculture award will receive a $35,000 credit toward a new Ford, courtesy of Ford Motor Company.
The national runner-up will receive a $25,000 credit toward a new piece of equipment from Case IH, courtesy of Case IH.
Third place in the national competition will receive a $2,500 Investing in Your Future cash prize, courtesy of AmericanAg; and $2,500 worth of Stanley Black & Decker merchandise, courtesy of Stanley Black & Decker; and a Case IH branded safe, courtesy of Case IH.
The fourth-place national finalist will receive a Case IH branded Solo Stove, courtesy of Case IH.
Contest information
Information on TFB’s Excellence in Agriculture contest and other young farmer and rancher activities can be found online at texasfarmbureau.org/YFR.