GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Six Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) Young Farmers were honored during an awards ceremony Nov. 30 at the organization’s 92nd Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids.

Kris Wardin of St. Johns claimed the title of MFB 2011 Young Farmer Discussion Meet state winner after four rounds of competition including 33 fellow farmers from across the state. Wardin, 33, is a member of the Clinton County Farm Bureau. He and his wife, Carla, operate a 300-head dairy farm, which they took over from her parents in 2007.

The annual Discussion Meet challenges MFB members, ages 18-35, to discuss current agricultural issues. Guest judges evaluate contestants on their timed analysis of each topic, delivery and cooperative attitude. Participants were eligible to compete in the state contest after successfully advancing in district meets.

Rounding out the top four state finalists are Nathan Prill of Bad Axe, Matthew Jakubik of Prescott and Joseph Ankley of Imlay City.

Melanie Block of Ravenna earned the MFB Young Farmer Excellence in Agriculture Award. The 33-year-old from Muskegon County is the agriscience teacher and FFA advisor at Ravenna High School. An educator for 11 years, Block has received several accolades for exposing students to careers in agriculture and fostering their leadership skills.

Outside the classroom, Block and her family own and operate Lucky Star Farms. The family raises sheep, pigs, chickens, hens for eggs and a variety of vegetables to sell to local restaurants and consumers. She was selected by guest judges from a field of four award finalists.

The Excellence in Agriculture Award recognizes young farmers who do not derive the majority of their income from a personally owned agricultural operation, but who actively contribute to and grow through their involvement in Farm Bureau and agriculture.

Bret C. Schapman of Almont is the 2011 winner of MFB’s Outstanding Young Agricultural Leader Award. The 34-year-old Macomb County Farm Bureau member operates Ingleside Farms with his father, brothers and grandmother.

The farm is home to a beef feedlot and acreage for corn, soybean, wheat and hay production.

Schapman’s responsibilities include livestock care, equipment and facility maintenance, fertilizer applications and soil and technology management.

He also oversees record-keeping as a state-certified operator of a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation, and was instrumental in helping the farm become verified in the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program. He was selected by guest judges from a field of four finalists.

The Outstanding Young Agricultural Leader Award recognizes a successful young farmer for outstanding leadership roles in Farm Bureau, agriculture and their local community. Contestants are judged on their ability to actively serve in leadership roles while managing a successful farm operation.

Christopher McCallister of Sand Creek was named MFB’s Outstanding Young Farm Employee. Employed by State Line Farms, the 32-year-old from Lenawee County was selected by guest judges from a field of four finalists.

He is responsible for managing the wean-to-finish operation, raising piglets from shortly after birth until the time they are marketable for meat production. In the spring, McCallister operates the farm’s greenhouses. In addition, he is the farm’s agronomist.

This award recognizes young farmers for their contributions as employees to the success and long-term profitability of the operations with which they are employed. Nominees are also judged on their leadership involvement in Farm Bureau, agriculture and their community.

Jonathan Findlay of Caro earned MFB’s Young Farmer Achievement Award. The 31-year-old from Tuscola County was selected by guest judges from a field of four finalists. He and his family organically grow a variety of crops, including soybeans and spelt to make into gluten-free pasta, flour and bread products.

Findlay also grows snap beans for frozen foods. He has grown squash and popcorn for international markets and blue corn for organic corn chips. The Findlays offer custom harvesting, drying and storage for other organic farmers in their area. Since building a grain processing facility in 2011, they are also able to clean, bag and deliver these products.

The Young Farmer Achievement Award recognizes a successful young Farm Bureau member or married couple for outstanding achievement in the business of farming and leadership in the agricultural community. Applicants are judged on their farm management ability and involvement in Farm Bureau and other organizations.

Wardin, Block, Schapman, McCallister and Findlay all will advance to their respective contests during the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) 93rd Convention and Annual Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii, Jan. 8-11, 2012.

Corey Oeschger, of Bay Port, is the winner of the second-ever Outstanding County Young Farmer Chair Award from the MFB Young Farmer Committee. Oeschger, 29, is chair of the Huron County Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer Committee.

This award recognizes him for playing a significant role in building a strong and active young farmer program at the county level. Oeschger was chosen from MFB’s Young Farmer Star Award applications, which measure a county Farm Bureau’s young farmer involvement at the county and state levels, types of local events and membership recruiting efforts.