Excellence in Agriculture Award

Young Farmers & Ranchers: Leadership Conference Achievement Award Excellence in Agriculture Award Discussion Meet Committee of the Year Spotlight Meet Your YF&Rs Calendar of Events Food Check-Out Week YF&R Gives Back Request Information

Deadline: June 22, 2012 4:00 p.m.

Download Application Form
Excellence Application (Excel)

The Excellence in Agriculture Award is designed as an opportunity to recognize Young Farmers & Ranchers who do not derive the majority of their income from an owned agricultural operation. Award winners contribute and grow through their involvement in Farm Bureau and agriculture. Participants are judged on their involvement in agriculture, leadership ability, involvement and participation in Farm Bureau and other organizations (i.e., civic, service and community).

Congratulations to the 2011 Excellence in Agriculture winners, Dr. Jennifer Wessel and her husband Josh Pitigliano of Tulare County. They were named the recipient of the award during the California Farm Bureau Federation's 93rd Annual Meeting in Sparks, Nev.

About the Winners

When a California farmer takes an Iowa-born, large-animal veterinarian to be his bride, there’s an obvious, additional bond that unites the couple: a love for agriculture.

Dr. Jennifer Wessel was raised on a third generation farm where her family raised swine, horses, dairy and registered Angus cattle and also grew corn, hay, oats, barley and wheat. Jennifer attended Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, followed by Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, where she earned a Doctor in Veterinary Medicine degree. She then moved to California to join a veterinarian practice specializing in dairy medicine. Currently, she is a one of nine partners in an 11-veterinarian clinic.

Josh Pitigliano was raised on a diversified farm in central California. He attended Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and returned home from college to become the fourth generation to farm their land. Josh farms with his father and two brothers. Their crops include almonds, pistachios, wheat, corn, hay, wine grapes, and black-eyed beans. Together, Josh and Jennifer operate a custom wheat drilling business. In September 2011, they added to their family. Wessel Shane Pitigliano will be raised with the same farming background that both his parents have enjoyed.