Voting will close Nov. 2 for the next Faces of Farming & Ranching, a U.S. Food & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) contest to find new USFRA representatives. Voting is open to anyone with a Facebook account at the USFRA's Facebook page.
Two dairy producers are in the running this year, both from the Midwest. If they win, they will represent USFRA in the media and advertising campaigns.
"I just want to talk with people about how we care for animals, we care for our land, we care about our product, and ultimately, them," said Michigan dairy farmer Carla Wardin, one of the eight finalists, in a video posted on the voting page. She and her husband Chris milk 400 cows and grow feed crops on 850 acres at Evergreen Dairy in St. John's, Michigan.
"As a city-kid-turned-dairy-farmer, I have a pretty unique perspective on the questions people have on where their food started from," said Wisconsin dairy farmer Carrie Mess, other dairy farmer among the eight finalists. "Even if that's a silly question – that's great. I want to answer that question." She and her husband and in-laws milk 100 cows and grow 300 acres of feed crops.
The other six finalists are, in random order:
- Erin Brenneman, a pig farmer in Iowa
- Jessica Potter, a cattle rancher in Colorado
- Brian Jones, a row crop farmer in Texas
- Darrell Glaser, a turkey and cattle farmer in Texas
- Thomas Titus, a pig farmer in Illinois
- Jay Hill, a vegetable, beef and nut farmer in New Mexico
The winners will be chosen by public votes and scoring by USFRA judges. Winners will be announced Nov. 12 during the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention in Kansas City, Missouri.
The winners will receive professional media and speaker training, a $15,000 stipend to help cover the costs of being away from their farms, travel expenses and other support from USFRA during their year as representatives. The contest is partly or wholly funded by checkoff programs. PD
—Summarized by Progressive Dairyman staff from a U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance news release
