Committee Purpose
To create a common link between the farm and business community, invest in our community, help to educate youth about agriculture, and make connections between farmers and those who are not closely linked to the farm.
Programs and Events
Agri-Business Luncheon
An annual event dedicated to celebrating agriculture and strengthening connections between farming and the business community. The luncheon features the presentation of the Outstanding Service to Agriculture Award and the awarding of a scholarship to a graduating senior FFA member.
Ag Education Center at the Round Barn (Plymouth County Fair)
An interactive agricultural display located in the historic Round Barn at the Plymouth County Fair, reaching more than 100,000 attendees each year. The Agriculture Committee works to promote agriculture while highlighting the businesses and industries that play a vital role in Iowa’s agricultural economy.
Agriculture Tours for Grade School Students
Educational tours that provide students with a firsthand look at agriculture. Local farmers share their stories and help students understand where their food comes from through guided tours focused on sheep, swine, dairy, and beef production.
Committee Members
Amanda Breitbarth
Tyler Borchers
Brad Cave
Joel DeJong
Cole Hancock
Jim Klein
Janelle Johnson - Chair
Joe Kessenich
Micah Lang
Mike McLaughlin
Jill Oltmanns
Bob Puetz
Ryan Putze
Scott Schroeder
Andy Schmidt
John Schneider
Gary Sitzmann
Jordan Sitzmann
Outstanding Service to Ag Award
- Commitment to Production Agriculture
- Leadership in Agricultural Organizations
- Promotion of Agricultural Products and/or Industries
- Contributions to Agriculture through Education
- Inspires Teamwork and Positive Attitudes
- Possess integrity, stature, and demonstrated ability that merit the recognition of a proven leader in the field of agriculture, natural resources, and life sciences.
- Have a record of impressive accomplishments that demonstrate significant achievements and contributions at the local, state, national, and/or international level.
*The recipient does not need to possess all characteristics, but should be strong in 3 or 4 of them.
1978Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Clayton Hodgson
1979Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Karen Brown
1980Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Arlie Pierson
1981Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ernie Mueller
1982Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Daryl Steinkamp
1983Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Dr. Les Hemmingson
1984Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Allen Plath
1985Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Dr. Ron Severson
1986Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Al Engbers
1987Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Norm Barker
1988Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ray McNaughton
1989Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â John Schnepf
1990Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Lester Johnson (posthumously, deceased 4/7/90)
1991Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â David Hawkins
1992Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Don Konopasek
1993Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jack Frus
1994Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Herman Schultz
1995Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Virgil Van Beek
1996Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Brad Banks
1997Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Gary Langel
1998Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â John Schneider
1999Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Bill Loutsch
2000Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Bob Kenaley
2001Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Bill Scheitler
2002Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Dr. John Conley
2003Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ralph Klemme
2004Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Dave Hoffman
2005Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Joel DeJong
2006Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kenneth Maass
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Merrill McNaughton (posthumously, deceased 3/19/07)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Wayne and Julie Beitelspacher
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Larry Petersen
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Bill Tentinger
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Randall Kroese
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Tony & Shirley Schroeder
2013Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Carol Schneider
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Bob Scheitler
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Brad Harvey
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ben and Janelle Johnson
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Chuck Holz
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Scott Thoms
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â John and Debra Ahlers
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Bob and Lisa Puetz
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â no recipient / no luncheon
2022Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â no recipients / no luncheon
2023Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Mark Loutsch
2024Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Albert Schulz
2025Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Dennis Morrice
2026Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Joe Rotta
FFA Award
- Must be a senior at a school district in Plymouth County, Iowa.
- Must have participated in their high school FFA Program for two years, including their senior year.
- Must have a 2.50 cumulative GPA average at the time of application. (A copy of their transcripts must accompany the application.)
- Participant shall exhibit outstanding character, demonstrate the highest level of dedication to agriculture, and serve as a role model for all students at their respective high school.
- Must have applied to a qualified post-secondary educational institution (community colleges are acceptable). Payment will be made to the student and will not affect their other scholarship opportunities.
- Applications must have one letter of reference. This reference letter can come from any school administrator (superintendent, principal, teacher, guidance counselor) or faculty member. The reference letter must include information that exemplifies the qualities of the nominated student necessary to be a leader in agriculture.
- Students must attach a 100-word essay about their current and future involvement in agriculture. Please try to be original and include some actions or words that demonstrate good stewards of agriculture.
2024 - 2025:Â Jaydn Berkenpas
2023 - 2024: Brady Allan, LeMars Community
2022 - 2023: Brandon Gengler, Gehlen Catholic
2021 - 2022: Aubie Hartmann, Akron- Westfield
2020 - 2021: Kayla Schroeder, MMC-RU
2019 - 2020: Madison Otto, Kingsley-Pierson
2018 - 2019: Christian Kock, LeMars Community
2017 - 2018: Kasey Riemenschneider, Kingsley-Pierson
2016 - 2017: Danika Tindall, Akron-Westfield
2015 - 2016: Jill Kessenich, Gehlen Catholic