SPRINGVILLE LIVESTOCK PRODUCER NAMED UTAH'S TOP YOUNG RANCHER

A Springville cattle and sheep producer has been named Utah's Top Young Farmer and Rancher by the Utah Farm Bureau Federation during the organization's annual convention, which ended Friday at the Marriott Hotel.

Craig Crandall, 28, and his wife, Elizabeth, were among 18 couples from throughout Utah vying for the award. Crandall won a 1989 Honda SX300 four-wheel-drive all-terrain vehicle.Crandall is a partner in a diversified family farm operation, which includes range and feeder cattle, a cow-calf herd, replacement heifers, finished beef and sheep. He also grows alfalfa hay and corn on 200 irrigated acres and grows dryland wheat on 2,000 acres.

Runners up in the competition were Scott and Christie Sandall, Tremonton, Box Elder County, who operate a 9,600-acre small grains and livestock farm, and Jay and Lauri Olsen, Manti, Sanpete County, who are partners in a purebred livestock farm.

The Farm Bureau named two winners of Distinguished Service Awards, Emer Wilson, Midway, Wasatch County, and Elizabeth Frew Hull, Hooper, Weber County.

Wilson, a dairy farmer and sheep and cattle producer, was honored for his 30 years service as president of the Wasatch County Farm Bureau. Hull, was honored for more than 48 years service to the Farm Bureau, 35 years as a 4-H leader and more than 30 years service to the Cub Scouts of America.

Special Service Awards were presented to Shigeki "Shake" Ushio, a recently retired Farm Bureau insurance agent, and talent scout Eugene Jelesnik, director of the Salt Lake Philharmonic Orchestra, a long-time USU tour director and, for many years, a supporter of the Farm Bureau's annual State Fair Talent Find, the longest running talent search program in Utah.