Outstanding Selviks

Todd and Meghan Selvik don’t quite believe it even yet.

 

Todd, who was named Waseca County’s Outstanding Young Farmer in 2025, is now also among a group of four from across the country named one of the nation’s outstanding young farmers.

 

Outstanding Farmers of America (OFA) is a national organization which works with Extension offices across the country. Based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, it claims more than 1,000 members. Todd and Meghan, along with three other couples, are the organization’s “National Outstanding Young Farmers of 2026.” 

 

The title was conferred on Feb. 7 at the OFA’s annual convention in Hershey, Pennsylvania. 

 

The Selviks explain there is no state-level competition, but there is a rigorous nomination process for the Outstanding Young Farmer (OYFA) award. In fact, any farmers who meet the criteria–being under 40 years of age, having a record of using progressive methods, and being known for contributions to their community–can be nominated, but not all advance.

 

In their case, they were nominated by South Central College professor Todd Stencel and encouraged to complete the application by area farmer Scott Hildebrandt, who was a winner of the OYFA “Class of 2002.”

 

The first application was due in June. Later in the summer when they were notified they were among the 20 semifinalists, they were asked to complete an even more detailed form which asked for financial information, as well as descriptions of progressive processes or equipment used in their operation, a list of community service roles, and some of their personal challenges, priorities and goals, all summarized in a document no more than four pages in length.

 

“It’s been a long time since we had to write a paper,” jokes Meghan. The second application was due Oct. 31, right in among the demands of harvest season, but “we got it completed and we sent it off,” recalls Todd.

 

They were told finalists would be announced sometime around Nov. 31. When that date came and went with no news, the two say they shrugged their shoulders and decided they were not among the finalists–until news came in mid-December that they were. There had been a delay in the selection process; the Selviks were invited to be in Hershey, Penn., from Feb. 4 to 7. 

 

Meghan, a special education teacher at Hartley Elementary in Waseeca, had to request time off. Arrangements had to be made for the care of their three children, Sydney, Ethan, and Olivia, all still in elementary grades, during their absence. Though it required a flurry of adjustments, the two made arrangements to attend, eventually even making separate travel plans in order to be sure all their commitments at home were met.

 

One of the first activities for OYF candidates, Todd describes, was a personal interview with OFA board members and other representatives. “It was really relaxed,” he says of the session. “Actually more of a conversation than an interview.” With ten candidate couples taking their turns, the process required most of the first day. “I was really glad I was scheduled early,” he says, mentioning that he was third among the ten, “It’s tough to talk about yourself.” 

 

After that, finalists participated in convention activities, including farm tours, factory tours, educational sessions, and gatherings.

 

“We were kept together,” Meghan says of the finalists, “so we got to know each other and learn about each others’ operations.”

 

“They were a really impressive group, and some neat people,” she recalls. “I feel like we really connected. We even still have a message group.”

 

Todd speculates that was the intent. “They want us all to build rapport,” he observes. “It helps build a sort of national community.”

 

Both remember being impressed by the diversity among the operations run by their fellow candidates, who were from the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming. The Wyoming operation, for example, included growing large amounts of vegetables in greenhouses.

 

“They were all family based and goal oriented,” Meghan says of the group. “They each had their own types of hurdles to overcome.” She admits to being so impressed, she couldn’t help wondering a few times how Todd and she ended up among them.

 

During the convention’s closing banquet, slide shows were shown to the full gathering describing the operations run by and challenges of each of the candidates. The slide shows were made using photos supplied by the participants; candidates had watched them together earlier in the week.

 

Afterwards, the “Class of 2026” members were announced one by one, with the state they were from being among the first pieces of information mentioned.

 

“We were all set to sit in our seats and listen,” says Todd. “We didn’t expect to be chosen.”

Three other Class members had been announced when Meghan remembers hearing the words “from Minnesota.” 

 

“I had to look at the screen to be sure,” she recalls. “I didn’t quite believe I had heard it correctly.”

 

But sure enough, she had, and Todd ended up behind the microphone. His comments, he recalls, “were completely spontaneous,” and included statements of thanks to his family and Meghan, as well as gratitude for the many blessings and opportunities which have been part of his life as a farmer.

 

Todd says he is grateful for the recognition, excitement and future opportunities which come with being a member of the OFA Class of 2026, but overall the experience was “humbling. I’m one of a lot of people out here working hard, doing good things, and making contributions… We are extremely thankful for all of our family and friends. They have provided support over the years and they continue to provide help and guidance every day.” 

 

The whole experience was practically surreal, Meghan recalls, since the next day they returned home, picked up the children, and went back to their usual routine. A plaque arrived a few weeks later in the mail.

 

The next day, Todd was carrying through on his role as the president of the Minnesota Pork Board and Producers Association, heading up the organization’s annual convention, attended by about 1,500, in Mankato.