By Julie Tomascik
Editor
Several Texans will compete in the 2022 American Farm Bureau Convention set for Jan. 7-12 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Travis and Kaylin Isbell of Williamson County Farm Bureau will represent Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) in the Achievement Award competition. This contest recognizes the accomplishments of young agricultural leaders between the ages of 18 and 35 who actively earn a living from farming and ranching.
The Isbells have a commercial cow-calf herd and raises stockers and Dorper sheep. They grow grass hay and winter oats and have a custom hay business. They implement no-till farming practices, along with the use of cover crops, to increase plant diversity and organic matter. They also use rotational grazing to help maximize their pastureland. Travis manages two other ranches, and Kaylin is a part-time farm and ranch real estate agent.
Both are active in Williamson County Farm Bureau. Travis serves on the board of directors and is the county’s Young Farmer & Rancher chair. They represent District 8 on the TFB Young Farmer & Rancher Advisory Committee, and Kaylin serves as the committee chair. They are both active in Young Farmer & Rancher events, as well as other TFB events and activities.
The TFB representatives in the Excellence in Agriculture competition are Heston and Stevie McBride of Lampasas County Farm Bureau. This contest is designed for young farmers and ranchers ages 18 to 35 who are involved in agriculture but do not earn their primary income from a farm or ranch enterprise.
The McBrides are the owners and operators of AgroTech, an agricultural business that offers products and services for farmers and ranchers in the Lampasas area. The small business helps meet a need in the community and surrounding counties. Together, they manage a cow-calf operation, and they also work alongside Heston’s family to grow Kleingrass and coastal Bermudagrass hay for their cow-calf herd.
The couple is active in Lampasas County Farm Bureau, and Heston serves on the board of directors. They attend Young Farmer & Rancher activities and other Farm Bureau events.
Isaac Sulemana of Hidalgo County Farm Bureau will represent TFB in the Young Farmer & Rancher Discussion Meet. Through this contest, Sulemana will discuss agricultural issues facing farmers and ranchers and potential solutions to those problems.
Sulemana’s family raises cattle and grows, hay, corn, grain sorghum and cotton. He is the chief of staff for Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez.
Sulemana is the Hidalgo County Farm Bureau president, and he participated in TFB’s leadership development program, AgLead-FarmLead. He has attended many Farm Bureau events, including TFB’s Campaign Seminar.
AFBF Convention information
A virtual option, which includes access to various workshops and keynote addresses, is available for those unable to attend the convention in Georgia. Virtual attendees can ask questions to the speakers via the chat function in the platform and have their questions answered live.
Virtual-only registration is $25. Click here for an agenda and to register.