SANDY–  Brett and Jenna Madsen, Chester; were recently recognized as the winners of the Utah Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher ‘Excellence in Agriculture’ award. The award was presented at the recent Utah Farm Bureau Annual Convention in Layton.

The Excellence in Agriculture award is a competition that was initiated a number of years ago to recognize young farmers and ranchers involved in agriculture, but who do not necessarily derive a majority of their income from an owned production agriculture operation.

“This was a thrill to win this award and represent our county at the national level,” said Jenna Madsen, who’s family has been raising turkeys in Sanpete County since 1981. The family’s agricultural roots run deep; however, having been farming for five generations in other parts of the state.

The Madsen family, representing the Sanpete County Farm Bureau, competed with 10 other contestants for the award. The Madsens received a 2015 Polaris ETX ATV courtesy of Zions Bank Ag Group, an insurance policy for the ATV from Farm Bureau Financial Services, and an expense-paid trip to the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting in San Diego, CA.

The Madsens will compete at the American Farm Bureau annual convention in January with the winners of this same award from other State Farm Bureaus across the country. National winners of the Excellence in Agriculture award are presented their choice of either a Chevy Silverado or GMC Sierra Truck, courtesy of General Motors.

Brett and Jenna work on the family turkey farm, with responsibilities over 35,000 birds, as well as managing more than 1,000 acres of hay and other farmland and the maintenance of buildings and equipment.

The couple are parents of three kids. Together as a family, they manage the farm and help promote agriculture any way they can. They have served on the State Young Farmer and Rancher Committee and have worked with local FFA chapters to help with leadership development.