Derek and Micayla Giffin of Obion County were named national runners-up in the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award contest. The results were announced during the closing session of the 104th American Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
As a fifth-generation farmer, Derek operates Giffin Farms alongside Micayla and also his father and cousin. The family farm is a diversified row crop operation consisting of more than 1,000 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and occasionally other small grains to increase diversity and produce their own cover crop seed. The couple also raises a herd of beef cattle where they focus on producing high quality calves for their custom beef enterprise. Off the farm, Micayla works as a state loan analyst for USDA’s Farm Service Agency. The Giffins are proud to be raising the sixth generation on the farm with their son, Everett.
Derek and Micayla have been extremely active in the Young Farmer and Rancher program on the state and local level for several years, as well as the Obion County Farm Bureau. Both have also been active in other agricultural organizations including the National Corn Growers Association, NRCS Conservation board and American Soybean Association.
The Giffins were named second place winners based upon a combination of their agricultural operation’s growth and financial progress, Farm Bureau leadership and leadership outside of Farm Bureau. The couple were named state winners in July of 2022 and competed against 27 contestants from across the country to be named national runners-up.
As second place winners, the Giffins receive a $25,000 credit toward new Case IH equipment, courtesy of Case IH. American Farm Bureau also provides them with a trip to the American Farm Bureau FUSION Conference in Jacksonville, Fla. March 3-6, 2023.
