Three young agricultural leaders from across Indiana are earning statewide recognition for their work to advance agriculture, strengthen rural communities and build a future for the industry.
Indiana Farm Bureau announced Oct. 15 that Justin Johnson of Whitley County, Megan and Justin Platt of Shelby County, and Courtney Mann of Putnam County are the winners of its 2026 Young Farmers & Ag Professionals awards.
The awards recognize members for their leadership, involvement in Farm Bureau and commitment to Indiana agriculture. The three honorees represent different paths into the industry, from agricultural technology and education to managing a family farming operation.
“This is an honor because of the chance I get to represent the state of Indiana on a national level,” said Johnson, who won the Excellence in Agriculture Award.
Each winner will receive cash awards and opportunities to represent Indiana at national Farm Bureau events in 2027. The honorees and finalists will be formally recognized during the Indiana Ag Gathering presented by Indiana Farm Bureau in December.
Technology and advocacy drive Excellence in Agriculture winner
Johnson’s career reflects how agricultural technology is creating opportunities for young professionals to support farmers, even when they do not directly operate a farm.
Raised in a family with deep agricultural roots, Johnson grew up participating in Farm Bureau activities. Although his grandparents sold their farming operation before he graduated from high school, he found a way to combine his interests in agriculture and technology.
He earned bachelor’s degrees in agricultural systems management and farm management from Purdue University, where he served as president of the Collegiate Farm Bureau chapter. He also won the state Collegiate Discussion Meet and the Young Farmers & Ag Professionals Discussion Meet, experiences that strengthened his communication skills and prepared him for leadership.
Today, Johnson works as a customer success technician for a large agricultural equipment dealership, helping farmers use precision technology to improve their operations and maximize the value of their farms. He also advocates for expanding rural broadband access, particularly in underserved areas where connectivity remains a barrier to agricultural innovation.
Johnson serves on his county Farm Bureau board as the Young Farmers & Ag Professionals chair and public relations coordinator. He is a graduate of Indiana Farm Bureau’s L.E.A.D. program and has participated in the organization’s rural broadband and innovation and technology issue advisory committees.
“Very few people get the opportunity to grow up on a farm and that’s a blessing,” Johnson said. “I could have gone in any direction with my career, but agriculture is in my blood.”
His commitment to Farm Bureau also reflects a family tradition of service. His grandparents served on the organization’s first Young Farmer committee, while both of his parents have been active at the county and state levels.
Johnson will receive an $8,000 cash award from Farm Credit Mid-America and a $3,000 award from Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance. He also will travel to Charlotte, North Carolina, to compete in the national Excellence in Agriculture competition at the 2027 American Farm Bureau convention in January.
Shelby County couple earns Rising Star honors
For Megan and Justin Platt, building a future in agriculture means combining their professional careers, their own beef cattle operation and a shared commitment to agricultural education.
Megan grew up on a third-generation beef cattle farm and was a 10-year 4-H member. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from Purdue University and now works as an agricultural educator and FFA adviser.
Justin earned a chemistry degree with a minor in environmental management from Ball State University. He works as a quality control chemist for a global agribusiness and food company.
After marrying and starting their own beef cattle operation, the couple became involved in their county Farm Bureau board at the invitation of a friend. They have since taken on leadership roles, with Megan serving as Shelby County Farm Bureau president and Justin leading the county’s Young Farmers & Ag Professionals program.
Together, they created a youth advisory board designed to give high school students more opportunities to learn about agriculture and become involved in Farm Bureau.
The couple hopes to expand public understanding of livestock production and agricultural operations over the next five years, helping more people recognize the work involved in producing the food and fiber consumers rely on.
“It’s really easy to feel defeated when you’re starting out and trying to do things on your own,” Megan Platt said. “Winning the Rising Star award tells us we’re going in the right direction.”
The Rising Star Award recognizes Farm Bureau members ages 18 to 30 who demonstrate personal and professional growth, participate actively in the organization and show a strong commitment to agriculture.
The Platts will receive a $2,000 cash award and an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2027 Farm Bureau FUSION Conference in New Orleans.
Putnam County farmer recognized for management and leadership
For Mann, the Achievement Award recognizes more than a decade of work in agriculture and a commitment to keeping her family’s farm productive for future generations.
Mann grew up on her family’s west-central Indiana farm, where the operation raises corn, soybeans and wheat. A 10-year 4-H member and active FFA participant, she continued her agricultural involvement at Purdue University, earning a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics and joining the Collegiate Farm Bureau chapter.
After returning to the family farm, Mann became increasingly involved in her county’s Young Farmers & Ag Professionals committee. She also participated in Farm Bureau’s 2026 tax and budget issue advisory committee and served on the organization’s resolutions committee, helping shape policy priorities.
Her leadership extends beyond Farm Bureau. Mann chairs her county Farm Service Agency committee and is a graduate of AgrIInstitute’s Indiana Agricultural Leadership Program Class 20. She also earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern Indiana.
On the family farm, Mann focuses on risk management, including grain marketing, crop insurance and government programs — responsibilities that are increasingly important as farmers navigate changing markets, production costs and policy decisions.
She also recently purchased her own farmland, marking another step in her long-term commitment to agriculture.
“I want to continue being involved in Farm Bureau because I think it’s important for those of us in agriculture to have a voice and a seat at the table, especially when it comes to policymaking at the local, state and national level,” Mann said.
Her motivation, however, begins at home.
“The ‘why’ that keeps me motivated is working with my family,” Mann said. “My family means everything to me and working together in our family business to give opportunities to future generations is something I’m extremely proud of.”
The award carries special meaning for Mann because her parents also won it in 1993.
Looking ahead, she hopes to help the family operation improve production efficiency, maintain soil fertility and protect its farmland for future generations.
Mann will receive $5,000 from Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance and $6,000 from Indiana Farm Bureau, Inc. She also will compete in the national Achievement Award competition at the 2027 American Farm Bureau convention in Charlotte and receive the David L. Leising Memorial Award.
The Achievement Award recognizes young farmers who earn the majority of their income from farming, with judges evaluating their leadership, involvement and farm management practices.
Investing in the next generation
The three winners highlight the range of skills and leadership needed to keep Indiana agriculture competitive — from precision technology and rural broadband to agricultural education, policy advocacy and financial risk management.
Their work also underscores the role young agricultural leaders play in connecting farmers with their communities, developing future industry leaders and protecting the long-term viability of family farming operations.
For Johnson, the Platts and Mann, the recognition comes as they continue building careers and expanding their contributions to Indiana agriculture.
Their next opportunity to represent the state will come in 2027, when Johnson and Mann compete in national Farm Bureau award competitions and the Platts attend the national FUSION Conference.
