Abts Wins Farm Bureau’s Farming for the Future Award

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Stephanie Abts was selected as the winner of Wisconsin Farm Bureau's Young Farmer and Agriculturists Farming for the Future Award at the organization's 106^th Annual Meeting and YFA Conference on December 7.

Abts and her husband, Keith, operate a 260-cow registered Holstein and Guernsey farm near Coleman in Oconto County. They raise 400 heifers and steers along with growing their own feed. Stephanie also does part-time nutrition consulting work for Rio Creek Feed Mill out of Algoma. She has been involved in the Wisconsin Farm Bureau for the last ten years. The Abts' have three children: Theodore, Maureen and Oliver.

"The Farming for the Future Award recognizes young farmers leading with clear vision in their communities, Farm Bureau and beyond," said WFBF President Brad Olson. "Stephanie is a prime example of the caliber of our membership and the future of our organization."

The Farming for the Future Award is presented to a Farm Bureau member between the ages of 18 to 35 who derives a majority of their income from on-farm production.

Abts will receive $1,500 courtesy of GROWMARK, Inc., will have the opportunity to attend the 2026 American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers & Ranchers Leadership Conference, will be eligible to participate in the 2027 YFA Washington, D.C. Fly-In and be a guest of WFBF at the 2026 YFA Conference.

Other finalists included Cosette Henthorne of Vernon County, Austin Vandertie in Door County and William Walleser in Vernon County.

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation co-sponsors this contest with GROWMARK, Inc. and Rural Mutual Insurance Company.