In 2022, Top Producer celebrates the 25th anniversary of its annual business and networking event. The Top Producer Summit will take place Feb. 14–16 in Nashville, with an online program launching Feb. 22–23.
As it does each year, the event will recognize several of the nation’s most outstanding farm operations. Finalists for the 2022 Top Producer of the Year Award include:
- Malecha Enterprises, Todd and Louise Malecha, Villard, Minn.
- Clearwater Farms, Christopher Riggers, Nezperce, Idaho
- Seven Springs Farms, Joe Nichols, Cadiz, Ky.
The winner of the Executive Women in Agriculture Trailblazer Award, Susan Weaver Ford of Kenly, N.C.; and the winner of the Tomorrow’s Top Producer Horizon Award, Brendan Martin of Mt. Solon, Va., will also be honored at the annual awards ceremony, which will be streamed live on Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. CST on AgWeb.com.
As the 2022 event approaches, let’s look back at the farmers honored during the 2021 event.
Top Producer of the Year
LongView Farms in Nevada, Iowa
The Henry family, which includes Steve and Laurie and their sons Scott and Eric, are the 2021 winners of the Top Producer of the Year award, which is sponsored by BASF and Case IH. The operation includes 10,000 acres of corn and soybeans, as well as hog and cattle enterprises. They are finding ways to diversify, while keeping their competitive advantages for their core business. As one of their businesses advisors says, their approach to growth is creative, thoughtful and disciplined.
Finalists
Came Farms in Salina, Kan.
Bill Came knows the equation for business success is to try new ideas, while sticking to your core values. On his diversified operation in Salina, Kan., Bill has seen dramatic growth in size and sophistication since its start back in the late 1800s. In the last decade, Came Farms has doubled in size to reach today’s 12,000 acres of wheat, grain sorghum, soybeans and alfalfa. The operation also includes cattle and a trucking company.
DX Ranch in Gettysburg, S.D.
Zach and Kelsey Ducheneaux, a father-daughter team, lead a multi-generational operation that is undergoing a transformation driven by consumer demand and regenerative agriculture. Established in the 1930s, the DX Ranch began with beef cattle and draft horses. Today it includes quarter horses and a direct-to-consumer grass finished beef operation. Their mission is simple: Provide beef that is local, nutritious that improves their communities.
Tomorrow’s Top Producer Horizon Award
Matt Splitter, owner of Splitter Farms in Lyons, Kan., is the 2021 Tomorrow’s Top Producer Horizon Award winner. Sponsored by Pioneer, the award recognizes a producer under the age of 35 who demonstrates excellence in farming. Splitter’s operation includes 7,000 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and grain sorghum. They also provide custom farm work, which increases the covered acres to 15,000 annually.
EWA Trailblazer Award
Jennie Schmidt of Sudlersville, Md., is the 2021 EWA Trailblazer Award winner. Sponsored by Corteva, the award honors female producers who are shining examples for their peers. A registered dietician turned farmer, Schmidt now determines the diets of a host a crops. She leads day-to-day operations with her brother-in-law, Alan. The farm produces green beans, tomatoes, grapes, soybeans and corn. As Schmidt looks forward, her goal is to successfully transfer a profitable, sustainable business to the fourth generation.
