GFB News Magazine
GFB celebrates YF&R award winners
by Jay Stone
News Writer
Posted on October 14, 2026 2:31 AM
Allie Andrews, Bryan and Addie Tucker, Michael Howard, and Arwen Bratten won the Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) competitive events held during the YF&R Summer Leadership Conference on Jekyll Island July 15-18.
Andrews, of Lamar County, won the YF&R Achievement Award. The Tuckers, of Wilcox County, won the YF&R Excellence in Agriculture Award. Howard, of Hart County, won the YF&R Discussion Meet. Bratten, of Stephens County, won the Collegiate Discussion Meet.
As state winners, Andrews, the Tuckers, and Howard each received, courtesy of GFB, a John Deere Gator and an expense-paid trip to the 2027 AFBF Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, to compete for national honors. They also each received $500 from Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance. Bratten receives an expense-paid trip to the 2027 AFBF Fusion Conference in New Orleans to compete for national honors.
The YF&R program is for farmers and ranchers between the ages of 18 and 35. It provides leadership development and opportunities to interact with others across the state, while enhancing advocacy skills.
Georgia Farm Bureau President Tom McCall, far left, and Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Manager Tony Hutchins, far right, congratulate GFB YF&R Achievement Award finalists, from left, Rick & Leanne Hopper, event winner Allie Andrews, and finalist Clay Black with wife, Annalise, & their children. /Photo by Logan Thomas
GFB Achievement Award
The Achievement Award is given to recognize farmers and ranchers who earn the majority of their income from production agriculture.
Andrews, who serves as Lamar County Farm Bureau YF&R chairwoman, served on the GFB YF&R Committee in 2024 and in 2025 became the first woman to chair the GFB YF&R Committee. Allie and her husband, Luke, raise cattle, broiler chickens and hay. They have an on-farm market at their farm near Barnesville. The couple has three children.
Clay Black, of Stephens County, and Rick & Leanne Hopper, of Wilcox County, were state finalists for the Achievement Award. Black raises cattle, poultry and produces hay. He and his wife, Annalise, have two children. The Hoppers raise cattle and operate Southern Cuts Processing & Meat Market in Pitts. They have one child.
As state finalists, Black and the Hoppers each received $500 from Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance.
GFB Excellence in Agriculture Award
Georgia Farm Bureau President Tom McCall, far left, and Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Manager Tony Hutchins, far right, congratulate GFB YF&R Excellence in Agriculture Award finalists, from left, Ashley Wright, event winners Bryan & Addie Tucker with their children, and Brittney Turner. /Photo by Logan Thomas
The Excellence in Agriculture Award (EAA) honors young farmers and ranchers who promote agriculture in their community and earn the majority of their income from something other than production agriculture.
EAA winners Bryan and Addie Tucker served on the GFB YF&R Committee in 2022 and 2023. Bryan works for Ag Technologies as a product specialist, selling, installing and servicing precision agriculture equipment. Addie recently earned her Ph.D. in agricultural education from Murray State University and is an assistant professor of agricultural education at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.
Brittney Turner, of Hall County, and Ashley Wright, of Coffee County, were finalists for the award. Turner is a strategic human resources leader for Wayne-Sanderson Farms. Wright is the Coffee County Extension Agent.
GFB Discussion Meet
Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Manager Tony Hutchins, far left, and Georgia Farm Bureau President Tom McCall, far right, congratulate GFB YF&R Discussion meet finalists, from left, event winner Michael Howard, Allison Bridges, Katelin Benkowski and Dalton Green. /Photo by Jay Stone
The Discussion Meet, which drew a total of 30 competitors, simulates committee-style meetings in which participants hash over agriculture-related issues and take a collaborative approach to seeking solutions. The first two rounds were held July 16. The third and the final four round were held July 17.
In the opening round, contestants addressed concerns over healthy diets and how Farm Bureau can advocate for science-based tools and research in pursuit of growing healthy, sustainable food. In the second round, the discussion centered on improving meat processing supply chains. In the Sweet 16 Round, the topic was how Farm Bureau can attract more young leaders to the YF&R program.
Discussion Meet winner Michael Howard, of Hart County, faced off with Allison Bridges of Haralson County, Dalton Green of Walker County and Katelin Benkowski of Morgan County in the final four round, during which they talked about the challenges in maintaining farmers’ accessibility to food animal veterinarians.
The Discussion Meet finalists each received $350 courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance.
Howard received his bachelor’s degree in agribusiness at UGA in May and started classes at the UGA law school this fall.
GFB Collegiate Discussion Meet
Georgia Farm Bureau President Tom McCall, far left, and Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Manager Tony Hutchins, far right, congratulate GFB YF&R Collegiate Discussion Meet finalists, from left, Gabe Merk, Bethany Brockman, Kaden Kinard and event winner Arwen Bratten. /Photo by Logan Thomas
In the Collegiate Discussion Meet final four, Arwen Bratten, of Stephens County, faced off with Bethany Brockman of Henry County (ABAC), Gabe Merk of Jackson County (UGA) and Kaden Kinard of Tift County (ABAC). Bratten is enrolled in Penn State World Campus and is studying abroad in France. Bratten receives an expense-paid trip to the 2027 AFBF Fusion Conference in New Orleans next March to compete for national honors.