HERSHEY – Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB) presented former PFB President Rick Ebert with the Barnraiser Award in recognition of his many years of service advocating for Pennsylvania agriculture at the county, state and national level. The Barnraiser Award, which is PFB’s highest honor, recognizes individuals who have spent a lifetime in dedicated leadership to the agricultural committee.
Ebert served as PFB’s eighth President from 2014-2022. He has given years of service to Farm Bureau at the state and local level. Ebert also served on American Farm Bureau Federation’s Board of Directors and was a member of its Executive Committee.
“I would like to congratulate Rick for being the 2023 recipient of the Barnraiser Award. This award is reserved for individuals who truly exemplify excellence in leadership and service to agriculture and Rick is a perfect example of that,” Pennsylvania Farm Bureau President Chris Hoffman said. “Rick played an important role in guiding Farm Bureau at both the state and federal level.”
Prior to his election as President, he served as Pennsylvania Farm Bureau’s Vice President for 10 years and represented District 16 on PFB’s State Board of Directors from 1996 to 2004. He was also president of Westmoreland County Farm Bureau and vice chair of PFB’s Young Farmer and Rancher Committee (now Young Ag Professionals). Ebert led PFB’s Dairy State Committee and frequently presented testimony before the Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board on behalf of dairy farmers across the state.
In 2009, Ebert received the Mid-Atlantic “Master Farmer” Award, in recognition of his farm success and civic engagement.
In 2008, Ebert was honored with the Charles E. Cowan Memorial Award, from the Professional Dairy Manager of Pennsylvania. The award is given in recognition to a farmer who has shown superior management on their farm, and outstanding leadership within the dairy industry.
Ebert was named 2007 Country Folks Keystone Farm Show “Farmer of the Year.” He was recognized for his involvement and accomplishments in the dairy industry and his involvement in social and agricultural organizations, such as Farm Bureau.
His farm’s conservation work was recognized with the Westmoreland County Conservation Award in 1983. In his community, Ebert serves as a 4-H leader, superintendent for the Westmoreland County Fair Association and on the St. James Catholic Church Pastoral Council.
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.