The Todd and Louise Malecha family are the 2022 winners of Farm Journal’s annual Top Producer of the Year award. Their operation, Malecha Enterprises, is based in Villard, Minn., and includes 1,200 milk cows and 1,100 replacement heifers as well as 2,500 acres of diverse crop and forage production. The award was presented during Farm Journal’s Top Producer Summit, held from Feb. 14-16 in Nashville, Tenn.
“The Malechas stay focused on goals and values, working with a stable of professionals,” said Sara Schafer, editor of Top Producer magazine. “They set one-, three- and 10-year goals, which they evaluate quarterly based on the needs of their businesses.”
In addition to the dairy operation, the farm includes production of alfalfa, corn, silage, soybeans and hay. They also do custom work and own and operate a gravel pit. Todd and Louise have seven children, ages 18 to 31. Five of their children and two daughters-in-law are members of the Malecha Enterprises team. Learn more about Malecha Enterprises.
Also honored as finalists for the Top Producer of the Year award were Joe Nichols of Seven Springs Farm, Cadiz, Ky., and Christopher and Nate Riggers of Clearwater Farms, Nezperce, Idaho.
Sponsored by BASF and Case IH, the Top Producer of the Year award is in its 22nd year and represents the best in the business of farming. Three finalists are chosen from numerous applications by a panel of judges based on entrepreneurial originality, financial and business progress and industry and community leadership.
The three finalists received all-expense-paid trips to attend the Top Producer Summit, as well as sessions with a CEO coach, courtesy of BASF, as well as a Case IH tractor of their choice for 150 hours of use on their farm, courtesy of Case IH. The winner also receives one year of regenerative agriculture consulting for 1,000 acres with Continuum Ag, courtesy of Rabo AgriFinance.
The in-person Top Producer Summit was Feb. 14-16 in Nashville, Tenn., with an online program offered Feb. 23-25. In conjunction, Trust In Food, a Farm Journal initiative, hosted its annual Trust In Food Symposium. In both formats, the event provided nearly 1,000 attendees from the United States and Canada with more than 40 educational sessions to boost their money, marketing and management skills.
Presenting sponsors included BASF, Beck’s Hybrids, Case IH, Pioneer and Rabo AgriFinance. Supporting sponsors included Belchim, Channel, CLA, Corteva, EnviroKure, IOM Grain, LLC, Kcoe Isom, Lincoln Financial Network, National Corn Growers Association, New Holland and Pivot Bio. Learn more about Top Producer Summit at TPSummit.com.
