During the Top Producer Summit, which was held Feb. 14-16 in Nashville, Top Producer honored five farm operations.
Top Producer of the Year
Malecha Enterprises in Villard, Minn.
The Todd and Louise Malecha family are the 2022 winners of Farm Journal’s annual Top Producer of the Year award, which is sponsored by BASF, Case IH and Rabo AgriFinance. Their operation includes 1,200 milk cows and 1,100 replacement heifers as well as 2,500 acres of diverse crop and forage production. In addition to the dairy operation, the farm includes production of alfalfa, corn, silage, soybeans and hay. They also do custom work and own and operate a gravel pit. Todd and Louise have seven children, ages 18 to 31. Five of their children and two daughters-in-law are members of the Malecha Enterprises team.
FINALIST
Seven Springs Farm, Cadiz, Ky.
In 1994, Joe Nichols planted his first crop. Through calculated decisions and relationships, he has grown his operation. It now includes 25,000 acres of corn, wheat, barley, soybeans and tobacco, cattle, crushed rock sales, crop insurance and an erosion control blanket business.
FINALIST
Clearwater Farms, Nezperce, Idaho
Christopher and Nate Riggers, a son-father team, have diversified their operation to include 8,800 acres of wheat, barley, canola, grass seed and fallow ground. They also market grain directly to craft malt houses in the Northwest and across the country, as well as creating their own brand of finished malt.
TOMORROW’S TOP PRODUCER HORIZON AWARD
Brendan and Elaine Martin, owners of Martin Angus and Blue Cedar Beef, Mt. Solon, Virginia, are the 2022 Tomorrow’s Top Producer Horizon Award winners. Sponsored by Corteva, the Tomorrow’s Top Producer Horizon Award recognizes a producer under the age of 35. The Martins raise corn, alfalfa, small grains and hay, and their cattle operation includes a registered Angus and commercial Angus herd, 210 fed cattle and 1,030 feeder calves. In 2019, the Martins added Blue Cedar Beef, a direct-to-consumer beef business.
EWA TRAILBLAZER AWARD
Susan Weaver Ford of Kinley, N.C., is the 2022 EWA Trailblazer Award winner. Sponsored by Pioneer, the award honors female producers who are shining examples for their peers. Ford and her father, Ray Weaver, grow tobacco, corn, soybeans, wheat, oats and cotton across 2,000 acres, 420 of which are family owned. Their team includes three full-time and 11 part-time employees. Ford is the sixth generation to hold the reins of her North Carolina farm, and the first female.
You can still register for the Online Top Producer Summit, which gives you access to content through March 31. Use the code “VIRTUAL” to take 50% off your registration fee.
Read more coverage of the Top Producer Summit.
