A northeastern Wisconsin dairy farm couple will be competing for the 2022 National Outstanding Young Farmer award. Philip and Laura Finger of Oconto, who earned the state-wide title last January, have been selected as a national finalist for the honor. They'll travel to the National OYF Awards Congress, being held in February 2022 in South Carolina, to go through an extensive interview and testing process. The event was scheduled for next month, but has been canceled due to the pandemic.
Phil is the fifth generation on the farm, which has been in his family for nearly 150 years. They took ownership of the operation in 2009, but his parents are still actively involved with the farm. The Fingers currently milk over 540 cows and grow 1,900 acres of crops, including corn silage, grain, alfalfa, rye and winter wheat.
Both Phil and Laura have dairy science degrees, with his being from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Laura with Iowa State University. The couple also has four children, who all play an active role with farm chores.
Wisconsin has had 19 national winners in its six-decade history of the program. The award is based on 50-percent progress in their ag career, 25-percent from soil and water conservation and 25-percent for contributions to their community.
Categories: Wisconsin, General