Wisconsin Dairy News: National Outstanding Young Farmer

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By Tiffany Yapp - email

BURLINGTON (WKOW) -- Every business, large or small, wants to know that it is doing a good job, and when you learn that you're doing well on a national scale, it's that much more rewarding.

The Outstanding Young Farmer program is the oldest farmer recognition program in the United States. Since 1955 each state's Junior Chamber International Organization has awarded one lucky recipient to advance to the national competition.

This year Brian and Renee Schaal from Burlington were selected to represent Wisconsin, and won. Brian is the third generation to run the family dairy farm, and he's proud to be recognized for his efforts.

"It just really gives us a boost of confidence, you know, maybe that pat on the back that you need saying that you are doing a good job, you're heading in the right direction," Brian said.

Criteria for the award are based on community involvement, conservation, land stewardship, profitability and financial progress in an agriculture career. Brian and Renee added 180 stalls to a freestall barn, retrofitted another barn into a flat stall milking parlor, and increased feed and manure storage to help increase efficiency.

The awards ceremony took place in February in Springdale, Arkansas.

For more information, or to nominate a young Wisconsin farmer, log on to www.jciwisconsin.org.