RACINE, Wis. — As part of its ongoing commitment to help agriculture producers Be Ready to address the challenges and opportunities confronting the agriculture industry, Case IH awarded nine new Farmall^® tractors to the runners-up of the 2012 American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) awards. One of those tractors, a Case IH Farmall 65A, was recently delivered to Chad and Julie Carlton of Aragon, Ga., for being a national finalist for the YF&R Achievement Award.

The winners, announced at the AFBF’s 93rd Annual Meeting on January 9 in Honolulu, Hawaii, were selected based on the success of their operation combined with the strength of their leadership skills.

“These finalists truly represent the kind of leadership ability farmers will need to keep up with the evolving agriculture industry,” says Scott Raber, Case IH Regional Sales Director. “We are proud to sponsor them as they continue growing in this rewarding business.”

The Carltons produce free-range eggs, grass-fed beef, range-fed turkeys and lamb. They market their all-natural products in the Atlanta, Ga., area. Chad Carlton says farming is both his job and hobby, and he his thankful to AFBF for their support.

“Farm Bureau has the loudest, most influential voice when issues arise in the farming community,” says Carlton. “Being a finalist for the Achievement Award has been a goal of ours for several years, and we’re honored to be one of this year’s runners-up.”

Case IH dealer Haney Farm & Ranch Supply in Rockmart, Ga., delivered the new Case IH Farmall 65A to the Carltons in January. The Carltons already own a Case IH JX80 tractor, but they are ready to add a larger tractor to their fleet.

“It is going to fit in really well,” Carlton says. “I am extremely impressed with Case IH for awarding such a great prize to the competition runners-up.”

Having participated in the 2008 Discussion Meet, the Carltons are familiar with AFBF’s YF&R awards and they actively participate in Farm Bureau, with Chad serving as Polk County vice president. The relationships the Carltons have developed through Farm Bureau have even helped pass legislation on the state level. They are active outside Farm Bureau as well, with a 1-year-old daughter, Jersey, and participating on the Georgia Organics board.