Each year, we recognize the outstanding efforts of our grassroots volunteers at our Annual Meeting. Click a category below to learn more about the awards we present:
- Membership
County Membership Achievement Award
Counties that host at least one membership event during the membership year and show a membership gain from County Farm Bureau volunteers and County Board members will be recognized with a plaque to acknowledge this achievement.
*County Annual Meetings are not an eligible membership event. Event must take place between October 1, 2023 and September 20, 2024. County nominations/applications must be submitted by October 15, 2024.
Volunteer Membership Recruiter Awards
*The name of the membership recruiter must be noted on the membership form and must be entered into the system when posting the membership payment. If a member signs up online, the referral name must be listed. Must be an active member of South Carolina Farm Bureau to receive the award. The referred member must be a new member or a returning member who has been expired for 2 or more years. In order to receive credit for the member, they must be paid in full and active members on October 1 of the next membership year.
Award Term: October 1, 2023 - September 30, 2024
Master Membership Recruiter Award
$100 award = For each increment of five (5) new members signed
$10 additional = For each additional new member signed until the next increment of five
Recognition: Award recipients will wear a “Master Membership Recruiter” ribbon on their nametag during the SCFB Annual Meeting. They will be recognized during the awards ceremony and have reserved seating for them and their guest on Thursday night’s welcome dinner during annual meeting.
Outstanding Membership Recruiter Award
A $1,500 Farm Bureau Bank Gift Card will be awarded to the FIRST volunteer membership recruiter to sign up 25 NEW members during the current membership year ending September 30. It’s a race to the finish line – the faster you recruit, the more you win!
County Board Award
$1,000 will be awarded to the County Farm Bureau Board when at least three or more board members and/or volunteers team up to collectively recruit the most members during the membership year. The money will be awarded to the County Farm Bureau to be used to support additional membership recruitment and retention efforts. The County Board that wins this award will be celebrated as the best membership recruitment team in the state. Nominations for this award must be submitted by September 30 of each year to ensure that all members recruited are contributed to the correct County Farm Bureau. Team up with your board and recruit together to win!
Outstanding Partner Award
In recognition of businesses that participate in membership recruitment, any business or partner that refers 10 members or more will receive a complementary table at SCFB’s Annual Meeting, recognition at the SCFB Annual Meeting, and have the opportunity to place a 1/3 page ad in the 2025 Spring edition of the SC Farmer at no cost. *Referrals will be calculated per location, not across multiple locations, and the referral must be documented when the membership is posted. Does not apply to SCFB Affiliate Companies (SCFB Products Program, Farm Bureau Insurance, etc). SCFB member benefit partners ARE eligible (Riverbanks Zoo, Ford Dealerships, Grasshopper, Martin Buildings etc).
PLEASE NOTE: Memberships must be entered into the membership database at the time of the new referral. The final year report will run the morning of October 1, 2024, for the period of October 1, 2023 thru September 30, 2024.
Outstanding Lead Secretary Award (By District)
Four (4) Farm Bureau Lead Secretaries will be recognized for their outstanding contributions to membership outreach and engagement at the county level. Nominations for this award will be submitted by the County President or County Membership Chair by October 1, 2024.
Award package includes:
- $250 Farm Bureau Bank Gift Card
- Three-night stay at the Embassy Suites Kingston Plantation in Myrtle Beach for the SCFB Annual Meeting
- A Plaque and recognition during the Awards Ceremony at the SCFB Annual Meeting
- Young Farmer and Rancher
Achievement Award
This is available to individuals or married couples between the ages of 18-35 who are actively engaged in farming and earn the majority of their income from an owned production agriculture operation. The applicants are judged by a written application and the top three finalists will participate in on-farm judging with a panel of judges. The three finalists will receive one night stay at the SCFB Annual Convention and YF&R Leadership Conference and will be awarded a $1000 cash prize, compliments of Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company. The grand prize that is awarded to the winner at the YF&R Leadership Conference is up to $33,750 toward the purchase of a new Ford truck, compliments of Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company. In addition, the winner(s) will also represent South Carolina Farm Bureau at the following:
- The 2024 American Farm Bureau YF&R Leadership Conference in March 2024
- The SCFB Annual Meeting in Myrtle Beach in December 2024
- The American Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in January 2025
Compliments of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company and South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation
Excellence in Agriculture Award
This is available to Young Farmers and Ranchers between the ages of 18 and 35 who do not derive the majority of their income from an owned agricultural operation, but who actively contribute to agriculture and demonstrate leadership through their involvement in Farm Bureau and the agricultural community. The applicants are judged by a written application and the top three finalists will give a presentation before a panel of judges at the SCFB Annual Convention in Myrtle Beach. The three finalists will receive one night stay at the SCFB Annual Convention and YF&R Leadership Conference and will be awarded a $500 cash prize, compliments of Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company. The grand prize that is awarded to the winner at the YF&R Leadership Conference is up to $7,000 toward the purchase of a new ATV, compliments of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company. In addition, the winner(s) will also represent South Carolina Farm Bureau at the following:
- The 2024 American Farm Bureau YF&R Leadership Conference in March 2024
- The SCFB Annual Meeting in Myrtle Beach in December 2024
- The American Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in January 2025
Compliments of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company and South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation
SCFB YF&R Discussion Meet Competition
This is available to YF&R members between the ages of 18 and 35. All participants will receive one free night’s hotel stay while in Myrtle Beach for the competition and a $75 cash prize. Each of the Final Four contestants will receive a $250 cash prize, compliments of Southern Farm Bureau Casualty. The grand prize for the winner of this competition is an EZ-GO golf cart and a voucher for up to $500 of STIHL merchandise. In addition, the winner will also represent South Carolina Farm Bureau at the following:
- The American Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in January 2024
- The 2024 American Farm Bureau YF&R Leadership Conference in March 2024
- The SCFB Annual Meeting in Myrtle Beach in December 2024
Compliments of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company and South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation
YF&R County Activity Award
A certificate and a $150 check will be awarded to the County Young Farmers and Ranchers programs that receive a qualifying score on the County YF&R Activity Questionnaire. Follow the 2018 Guide to an Active County YF&R Program to produce the highest score possible!
Harvest for All Award
This program highlights county, cluster or district YF&R programs who organize effective and innovative projects for donating funds, friends (volunteers) or food that help bridge the food gap in South Carolina. The “Winning Project” and “Most Innovative Project” will each receive a $250 cash prize that is intended to be donated to a local charitable organization or used as seed money for a future Harvest for All project. Project Reports must be submitted by December 31st and the winners are announced at the Annual SCFB YF&R Leadership Conference.
- Women's Leadership
County Women Leadership Activity Award
Each county Women Leadership Committee that scores a minimum of 100 on the Women Leadership’s Activity Award Application will receive a certificate and $200 for ag literacy activities.
- Ag in the Classroom
Betty J. DeWitt Outstanding Educator Award
The nominee must have designated and implemented a lesson/unit/project about the food and fiber industry within the last school year (August-May). The winner will receive a one-night expense paid trip to the SCFB Annual Convention and a $1000 cash award. The winner will also win a one year free membership to their County Farm Bureau; which includes 4 issues of the SC Farmer Magazine, and all the savings benefits included in an associate membership.
Classroom Mini-Grant Program
The SC Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher program offers a Learn-to-Farm classroom mini-grant program for teachers in public and private schools. The mini-grant program provides a $500 mini-grant to a school in each of the four South Carolina Farm Bureau districts for teachers who qualify through an application process. Teachers must design a project that includes production agriculture crops and/or activities related to successfully growing and producing food or fiber. In-person and virtual projects are accepted.
- County Farm Bureau
County Performance Award
This award is designed to evaluate the overall performance of a County Farm Bureau in eleven (11) specific areas. Each area is evaluated and scored on its own merits. An overall score will determine if a county qualifies as a recipient of the award and only those counties with the highest scores will be recognized at the Awards Program on Friday night of the SCFB Annual Meeting. Each county that qualifies will receive a plaque in honor of their outstanding achievement. Applications are due by the end of the day on October 15th and should include activities from October 1 through September 30.
This is not a District Award. Every county in the state will be scored based on their level of activity.
In addition to the above, an award for most improved will be given to one county in each District.
County leaders are asked to complete the application each year and provide an accurate account of County Farm Bureau activities. Scoring will be decided by a panel of judges once applications have been submitted. Each County President receiving a Performance Award plaque will be notified prior to the State Convention.
- Distinguished Service Award
Distinguished Service Award
This is the highest award given within the SCFB organization and is awarded each year during the annual meeting. It is presented to one or more Farm Bureau members whose untiring service to the organization, his or her community, and to agriculture, has uniquely qualified him or her for this high honor. A selection committee, which is composed of recipients from the previous three years, is responsible for selecting a candidate(s). County Farm Bureaus are asked to submit nominees for consideration. The nominee application(s) should be in the state office no later than June 15 of each year.
For more information on awards, please contact Betty Morris via email, or at 803.936.4210.