Hannah Molitor of Stearns County finished in the Top 10 of the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Excellence in Ag competition, announced at the closing general session of the AFBF Annual Convention on Jan. 12 in Anaheim.

Raised alongside seven sisters on her family’s 300-cow dairy farm, Molitor’s journey in agriculture began early. Today, she balances dual roles as a Program Analyst with the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) and as an on-farm Field Technician with Minnesota Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA). Her unique perspective allows her to support farmers both behind the desk and in the barn, helping them navigate safety-net programs while collecting and analyzing herd data to improve production efficiency.

As President of the Stearns County Farm Bureau, Molitor has transformed local outreach and agricultural education. She created and leads the county fair’s Adventures in Agriculture exhibit, now one of the fair’s most popular attractions with more than 8,000 visitors annually. The exhibit features hands-on stations where children and families can experience farm life from milking a fiberglass cow to hatching chicks. She also helped launch the county’s Ag in the Classroom program, organized farm safety demonstrations, and coordinated community events like the Farm Bureau Barn Dance and Milk Run 5K.

Her advocacy efforts also has far reach. In 2023, Molitor was invited by U.S. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer to attend the State of the Union Address in Washington, D.C., representing young farmers during discussions about the next Farm Bill. She has since worked with state and federal legislators to share the voices of Minnesota farmers, leading her county Farm Bureau’s efforts to host coffee shop talks and farm visits that connect lawmakers directly with farmers.

Beyond her professional and Farm Bureau roles, Molitor remains deeply involved in her community and faith. She serves as Events Chair for the Diocese of St. Cloud’s National Eucharistic Revival, leads women’s ministry programs, and contributes regularly to the Catholic Country Chronicles blog, where she shares stories about faith and rural life.

The Excellence in Agriculture Award is designed as an opportunity for young farmers and ranchers to earn recognition while actively contributing and growing through their involvement in Farm Bureau and agriculture off the farm. Participants are judged on their involvement in agriculture, leadership ability, and involvement/participation in Farm Bureau and other organizations.