The nominees for the Manitoba Outstanding Young Farmers award were announced Wednesday, including Jason and Laura Kehler of Carman, Ben and Lisa Heide of Boissevain, and Marcus and Paige Dueck of Kleefeld.

The winner will be announced next Saturday at a banquet in Winnipeg, and will travel to Niagara Falls in November to compete at the national level in Canada's Outstanding Young Farmer program.

Regional coordinator for Manitoba Angela Fox says these awards are a good opportunity for networking among young farmers.

"It allows for good, open communications with other young farmers, and I think it's super important we realize what our young farmers are doing to promote sustainability within their industry, and how we're innovative and we're working well to make sure good quality food is being given to consumers. I think programs like this do a lot to recognize that," Fox says.

This is the 36th year the awards have been given out to Manitoba farmers. Recipients must be under the age of 40, make two-thirds of income from farming, and must have an ownership stake in their farming operation.