Lavaca Couple Wins Outstanding Young Farmer And Rancher Contest

An idea hatched from practicality has grown into a fullydeveloped business venture and created statewide recognition for Matt and Jessica Hanslik of Lavaca County.

The couple was named the winner of Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) 2020 Outstanding Young Farmer & Rancher (YF&R) competition during the organization’s 87th Annual Meeting virtual opening session.

“Matt and Jessica took one idea and created a new business model,” TFB President Russell Boening said. “They have built a full-circle farming operation from the ground up, and we congratulate them on their hard work and ingenuity.”

On their farm and ranch in Lavaca County, the Hansliks grow corn and hay, raise cattle, and are part owners of an allnatural fertilizer company, in which they take chicken litter and “upcycle” it for use as farm fertilizer.

The idea was sparked when Jessica, a manager at a national shell egg company, suggested they begin using chicken litter from local broiler houses to fertilize their fields.

Now, in addition to using the all-natural fertilizer to boost yields on their own land, they sell the product to other area farms and ranches.

The young couple resides in Halletsville with their two children, Blakely and Kade.

Both are involved in Farm Bureau activities at the county and state level.

Matt currently serves as the Lavaca County Farm Bureau chair for Youth and YF&R committees. Jessica is on the Lavaca County Farm Bureau board of directors. She also serves on the TFB Poultry Advisory Committee and served on the 2020 TFB Resolutions Committee.

“The Outstanding Young Farmer & Rancher competition recognizes farmers and ranchers between the ages of 18 and 35 for their hard work and dedication to Texas agriculture, Boening said.