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Posted on Nov 30, 2020 in Featured, News Releases

Wharton County native wins TFB Excellence in Agriculture contest

Wharton County native wins TFB Excellence in Agriculture contest

 

(WACO, Texas)—One Wharton County young woman’s dedication to agriculture paid off in a big way. Jessica Rumbaugh of El Campo is the winner of the 2020 Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) Excellence in Agriculture competition.

“Jessica is a prime example of excellence in agriculture,” TFB President Russell Boening said. “She is a Farm Bureau leader not only in Texas but in the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), as well. She works tirelessly to promote agriculture to children and those in urban settings, and we’re glad to recognize her contributions and celebrate her achievements.”

Rumbaugh is the owner and broker of Texas Land and Home Real Estate, a real estate brokerage that specializes in acreage properties. She offers education and assistance for landowners on agricultural tax valuations, wildlife management and the utilization of land for its best intended value.

She also owns and manages a direct-to-consumer grassfed beef operation. Rumbaugh trains the horses used on the farm and competes in working ranch horse championships, where she’s won multiple competition titles.

Rumbaugh and her husband, Ben, have two children, Kai and Bailey. The couple serves as the District 11 representatives on TFB’s Young Farmer and Rancher (YF&R) Advisory Committee. Rumbaugh is also a Wharton County Farm Bureau board member and is the county YF&R Committee chair.

She is a member of the AFBF GO Team, a national grassroots outreach advocacy group and the first Texan to graduate from AFBF’s Women’s Communications Boot Camp.

“Passionate young leaders like Jessica are important to the continued success of agriculture,” Boening said. “Jessica and the other finalists all play a vital role in the advancement and promotion of Texas agriculture.”

As the winner of the Excellence in Agriculture contest, Rumbaugh will represent Texas at the national competition in January.

She will also receive a UTV, courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company, and a $5,000 cash award, courtesy of Farm Credit.

Other finalists in this year’s competition included Cody Berry of Hudson and Laura Reed of Denton.

The two runners-up will receive a $1,000 cash award, courtesy of Farm Bureau Bank, and a $500 cash award, courtesy of Farm Credit.

The winner of the national Excellence in Agriculture award will receive a new Ford vehicle up to a value of $35,000 and paid registration to the Farm Bureau FUSION Conference in Oregon, courtesy of Ford.

The national runner-up will receive a Case IH Farmall 50A tractor, courtesy of Case IH.

Third place in the national EIA competition will receive a Case IH 40” Combination Roll Cabinet & Top Chest and a $500 Case IH parts card, courtesy of Case IH; a $2,500 Investing Your Future cash prize, courtesy of American Farm Bureau Insurance Services, Inc.; and $1,850 worth of Stanley Black & Decker merchandise, courtesy of Stanley Black & Decker.

The fourth-place national finalist will receive a Case IH 40” Combination Roll Cabinet & Top Chest and a $500 Case IH parts card, courtesy of Case IH.

Information on other young farmer and rancher events and activities can found online at texasfarmbureau.org/YFR.

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