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Jon and Natalie Leeds win Achievement AwardOklahoma Muskogee County's Jon and Natalie Leeds were named Oklahoma Farm Bureau YF&R Achievement Award winner Nov. 6 at the 68th annual convention in Oklahoma City. The YF&R Achievement Award honors the state's top young farmer or farm family for their achievements in the farming business and their leadership in the agricultural community. A panel of judges selected the Webbers Falls couple for the award. They received an expense-paid trip to the 2010 American Farm Bureau convention in Seattle, Wash., to represent Oklahoma in the national contest where they will compete for Dodge pickups and Arctic Cat four-wheelers. As the Oklahoma winner, the Leeds received a year's use of a Dodge pickup and a WW Livestock Equipment squeeze chute. Jon, 34, and Natalie, 32, have two children, Jenna, 4, and Blake, 1. They operate 1,500 acres near Webbers Falls where they have irrigated and dryland corn, irrigated soybeans and irrigated wheat. Jon also is a sales rep for Pioneer Hi-Bred Seed Company. Jon grew up on a farm, and rented land when he was 20 to start his operation. After Jon and Natalie married, he began farming with Natalie's father and the two couples are now 50-50 partners on all equipment. The Leeds rent all of the land from Natalie's parents. "Since becoming partners with my father-in-law, we have expanded our farm storage by 100 percent," said Jon. "We have switched from soybeans as our main crop to corn and also added wheat to the rotation. With irrigation, corn has the highest potential of return. Since starting this, we have had steady growth in acres and capital." In the last five years, they have installed eight center pivot irrigation systems, and plan to buy two more pivots soon. "Surface water rights are always a concern in our line of business, but with the use of center pivots it has greatly improved our efficiency," said Jon. "We hope this practice will continue to keep our water usage to the minimum." They've also added a no-till planter and drill along with a semi tractor-trailer in the last five years. A new shop and equipment storage building also are in the works. However, the couple added: "We try to keep debt to a minimum so we don't expose ourselves to hardships due to uncertainties." While their occupation demands most of their time, the Leeds are active in Farm Bureau. Jon has been a member of the Muskogee County board for six years, and has been an officer most of that time. He has served the past two years as board president. The couple also serves as chairmen of the Muskogee County YF&R, and helped organize the county committee. They served three years on the state YF&R Committee and served as chairmen of the committee one term. The Leeds also are active in their local church.
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