Rachel Pickens was named the winner of Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture Award on Nov. 11 at OKFB’s 75th Annual Convention in Oklahoma City.
The award recognizes successful young adults ages 35 years or younger who are involved in farming, but whose primary occupations are not farming or owning an agricultural business. Winners are chosen based on their involvement in agriculture and participation in Oklahoma Farm Bureau and other community organizations.
Known as the “Oklahoma Land Lady,” Rachel is a successful realtor in Payne County. In 2010, she opened an agritourism venue, which also serves as an educational field trip destination for approximately 2,000 people per year.
Pickens also helps with the Kicking Childhood Hunger Committee, which is designed to raise money to help with food insecurity in Payne County.
“The committee has helped at our agritourism farm to help connect the general public to the awareness of childhood hunger,” she said. “We explain the importance of doing more with less and why we use practices the way we do in agriculture to continue to supply the demand of the growing population.”
As the Excellence in Agriculture Award winner, Pickens received a Polaris four-wheeler, courtesy of Farm Credit of Western Oklahoma and Oklahoma AgCredit, and an expense-paid trip to the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting Jan. 6-11 in Phoenix, Arizona, where she will compete for the AFBF Excellence in Agriculture Award.
Pickens will be donating the Polaris four-wheeler to the Kicking Childhood Hunger Committee to auction next year.
“This award is truly an honor because that’s another way I can give back to the community,” Pickens said.
Pickens will compete for the National YF&R Excellence in Agriculture Award during the AFBF Annual Meeting.
The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Annual Meeting is the organization’s largest gathering of farmers and ranchers every year. At the event, members vote on grassroots policy, elect leaders and award outstanding individuals. OKFB has a presence in all 77 Oklahoma counties and serves as the voice of agriculture and the rural way of life. To learn more, visit www.okfarmbureau.org.
Caption Information:
(L to R) Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Tom Buchanan and OKFB Young Farmers & Ranchers Chairman Josh Emerson present Rachel Pickens with the 2016 OKFB YF&R Excellence in Agriculture Award along with sponsors Kristin Zollinger of Farm Credit of Western Oklahoma and Ryan Luter of Oklahoma Ag Credit.
