Fourteen finalists have been announced across Michigan Farm Bureau’s 2025 Young Farmer awards program, celebrating outstanding young leaders in the state’s prodigious farm sector.
The Young Farmer Agriculture Leader Award honors successful young agriculturalists who earn the majority of their income from a farm operation, for their outstanding leadership in Farm Bureau, farming and throughout the agricultural community. Here are this year’s finalists in the Leader category:
Kyle Rasch — Ottawa County
On his parents’ 240-acres apple and peach farm, Kyle Rasch took assertive action to remedy a language barrier that once impaired worker relations and cut into the farm’s vital production efficiencies.
“Being able to speak Spanish has been key to our farm’s success,” he said. “It’s something I’m especially proud of since I will be the first family member in six generations to bridge that gap separating us from our workers. I’ve worked hard on it and it’s paying huge dividends.”
His future goals include helping to better inform consumers about specialty-crop production, and improving lines of communication between farmers and legislators.
“Being a Farm Bureau member means having my voice represented both legislatively in congress and in the public eye to better inform consumers,” he said.
Daniel Ringkvist – Lenawee County
Daniel Ringkvist operates an excavation company in addition to helping his father and uncle raise 250 acres each of corn, soybeans and hay at Ringkvist Farms.
“Starting this year my dad and uncle both more or less retired, but I can still put my dad in a tractor when I need something done,” he said. “I have a strong friend group of younger farmers I call on as a support system when any of us need help.”
His future to-do list includes boosting local Young Farmer involvement and closing the gap between that vital Farm Bureau program and the nearby FFA chapters that feed it.
“As a Young Farmer I appreciate the involvement Farm Bureau has to offer,” he said. “It keeps me involved in the farming community, with the ever-changing industry, and up to date with new laws, policies and bills that could be brought into effect.”
Abby Vittore — Lenawee County
With her parents, brother and husband, Abby Vittore helps maintain an acre of retail greenhouse where they raise annuals, perennials and vegetables — until autumn, when the direction shifts toward agritourism, with a corn maze, wagon rides, petting animals and other seasonal attractions. There’s also a few hundred acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa, and 35 acres of pumpkins.
“Of all my achievements and involvement, I’m most proud of the time I’ve spent volunteering, presenting and mentoring in our county’s classrooms and with our local 4-H and FFA chapters,” Vittore said. “The lessons and experiences I gained in school and through youth organizations were only possible because an adult chose to invest their time and energy into helping shape the lives of young people.
“I hope to provide students with the same experiences that had such a profound impact on me.”
She looks forward to taking part in MFB’s advanced leadership-development program, ProFILE, serve her county Farm Bureau board and ensuring the family farm is successful enough to pass down to a sixth generation.
“Farm Bureau provides a support network unlike any other organization,” she said. “The value of the resources and connections available at our fingertips far surpasses the cost of membership.”
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