HERSHEY – Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB) presented Cumberland County Farm Bureau members Ryan and Andrea Brown with the 2023 Young Ag Professionals Achievement Award at Pennsylvania Farm Bureau’s 73rd Annual Meeting Banquet on Nov. 14 at the Hershey Lodge in Hershey.
The Young Ag Professionals Achievement Award recognizes young farm individuals between the ages of 18 and 35 who compete for the prestigious award. The selection of the winning competitor is judged on his or her efforts in production agriculture and leadership achievement. The ideal candidate or candidates for the Achievement Award is an individual or couple involved in production agriculture with most of their net income subject to normal production risks.
As the recipients of Pennsylvania Farm Bureau’s Achievement Award, the Browns earned an all-expense paid trip to Salt Lake City, Utah, where they will compete in the national Young Farmers and Ranchers competition at the American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in January.
“Ryan and Andrea Brown truly showcase what it looks like to be involved in Farm Bureau at the county, state and national level,” PFB President Chris Hoffman said. “The Browns commitment to their own farm and to Farm Bureau makes them truly deserving of this honor.”
The Browns currently raise beef cattle, while farming close to 500 acres of crops including corn, soybeans, wheat, and hay. They do some direct-to-consumer marketing with their beef and have recently started raising goats.
Ryan and Andrea purchased their farm in 2014 from Ryan’s grandfather and are the fourth generation to continue Cornertop Farm. The Browns’ farm has grown substantially in the past nine years, as they’ve nearly doubled the number of acres they farm.
The Browns are both heavily involved in Farm Bureau and they each serve in leadership roles at the county, state and national level. Ryan serves as the President of Cumberland County Farm Bureau, while Andrea serves on American Farm Bureau Federation’s Ag Promotion and Education Committee. Both Ryan and Andrea serve as co-chairs for District 9 on the state Young Ag Professionals Committee.
Hundreds of farmers from across the state attended Pennsylvania Farm Bureau’s 73rd Annual Meeting at the Hershey Lodge from Nov. 12-15, to set policy for the statewide organization on issues affecting farm and rural families.