A John Deere Publication

Left to right: Zach and Andrea Heiken (New Jersey); James and Kimberly Hawkins (Georgia); John and Sara Wayne (West Virginia); and Trey and Dayna Wasserburger (Nebraska).

Agriculture November 01, 2025

Outstanding Young Farmers of the Year

Celebrating excellence in American agriculture.

The Outstanding Farmers of America (OFA) is a non-profit association that provides networking, education, and mentorship for ag professionals across the U.S. With more than 1,200 members, they play a critical role in fostering collaboration and community within the ag industry.

Annually, the OFA recognizes couples under the age of 40 who are active in their community, have made outstanding achievements in agriculture, and are committed to sustainability. Couples are nominated by extension agents, OFA members, industry leaders, elected officials, and others. An independent judging panel narrows the field to ten semi-finalists who are recognized as National Outstanding Young Farmers of America (NOYF). These semi-finalists are then flown to the annual OFA Convention where they participate in interviews by a new judging panel. Four couples are ultimately recognized as National Outstanding Young Farmers of the Year (pictured above).

"The OFA has been an elite group of farmers since the inception of our organization in 1954. It's a tight-knit group of farmers from across America who support each other," said OFA President Chris Martin, a peanut farmer from Hawkinsville, Georgia.

John Deere has proudly sponsored the OFA since 1976. "Sponsoring the OFA is a wise decision for John Deere," stated Jarah Hauger, industry relations manager at John Deere. "Our involvement in the production of food, fiber, fuel, and infrastructure aligns perfectly with the core principles of American agriculture, which is embodied by the OFA membership."

The Class of 2025 NOYF candidates and winners were determined in February 2025 at the annual convention in Des Moines, Iowa. If you have a farmer you would like to nominate, visit www.outstandingfarmers.com. Nominations are due 1 September each year. ‡