Dustin and Katie Wiese of Cass County were named the 2024 Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award competition winner, held during the organization’s annual meeting Nov. 21-23 in Minnetonka. 

 

The Wiese’s run a fourth-generation ranch in Cass County, where they have one of the largest registered Angus herds in the state. They also run the longest established production sale in Minnesota, marking their 50th anniversary in 2025. In addition to cattle, the couple also raises crops and runs a fencing company.

                                                      

Dustin and Katie are heavily involved in Farm Bureau and other agricultural organizations. Dustin currently serves at the Cass County Farm Bureau President, and both were on the state Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee, with Katie serving as chair in 2023. They are also active with the Minnesota Angus Association, Minnesota State Cattlemen and Cattlewomen, University of Minnesota Cass County Extension Committee and Headwaters Beef Co-op. Dustin was also recently appointed to the USDA Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers. They proudly sponsor a youth scholarship towards the purchase of a bull or heifer, and also developed a training course for law enforcement personnel on handling livestock. 

 

The Achievement Award highlights efforts in production farming and leadership. Contestants are evaluated on a combination of their farming operation growth and financial progress of operation, Farm Bureau leadership, as well as leadership outside of Farm Bureau.

 

Dustin and Katie advance to represent Minnesota at the national Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award competition, held during the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention Jan. 24-29, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas. They also receive a $500 cash award, an opportunity to participate in a MFBF Farmers to D.C. trip, and registration and lodging for the 2025 MFBF LEAP Conference.