Editors' Notebook
2025 America's Best Young Farmers and Ranchers
The Progressive Farmer January 2025 issue congratulates and profiles our newest class of America's Best Young Farmers and Ranchers (ABYFR). Now in its 15th year, the program recognizes exceptional under-40-year-olds who have chosen agriculture as their career and way of life. Nominations are judged on the operations' overall business plan, as well as the farmers' involvement in the community and the ag industry.
We'll share their stories on DTN and DTN/Progressive Farmer digital platforms in the next few days.
In November, we brought together the honorees in San Antonio, Texas, at the historic Menger Hotel, a few steps away from The Alamo. There, they met each other for the first time and participated in a workshop led by DTN Farm Business Adviser Lance Woodbury who writes the Family Business Matters columns for Progressive Farmer and DTN. It focused on multiple topics such as managing strategic performance, guiding principles of a family business, dealing with conflict, peer networks and more.
They also heard from 2014 ABYFR alum Jeremy Jack on the lessons he's learned over the past 10 years as CEO/COO of the Silent Shade Planting Co., in Belzoni, Mississippi. And, the group learned the latest commodity markets outlook from DTN Lead Analyst Rhett Montgomery.
I'm always amazed at how quickly everyone begins to feel comfortable around one another as they share their farming experiences, challenges and personal lives. They arrive as strangers and, two days later, leave as lifelong friends.
One thing honorees persistently have in common is a passion for farming and family, and an entrepreneurial spirit to drive profitability and long-term success. Each may take a different path, but all desire to leave a legacy for the generations that follow.
You'll learn what paths the 2025 ABYFR class are taking starting on page 16 of the Progressive Farmer January 2025 magazine issue, and their stories can be found at
https://www.dtnpf.com/…. We also will be running them in the top stories section of www.dtnpf.com in the next few days.
We're already seeking nominations for our 2026 class. If you know someone (you can nominate yourself or family member) or would like more information and a nomination form, contact Progressive Farmer Senior Editor Dan Miller at dan.miller@dtn.com.
To hear more about this year's class, check out DTN's Field Posts podcast, Episodes 224 and 2025, found at https://www.dtnpf.com/…. The podcasts are also available at https://www.buzzsprout.com/… and podcast hosting sites such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Gregg Hillyer can be reached at gregg.hillyer@dtn.com
Follow him on social platform X @GreggHillyer
(c) Copyright 2025 DTN, LLC. All rights reserved.
Comments
To comment, please Log In or Join our Community .