By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

Young farmers and ranchers between the ages of 18 and 35 are invited to a statewide conference that will provide opportunities for networking and education.

Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) Young Farmer & Rancher (YF&R) Spring Conference is designed to prepare and equip young leaders and professionals in agriculture with the tools needed to increase their agricultural advocacy efforts and help with farm and ranch decisions.

The event is set for March 31 through April 2 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Grapevine.

“I would recommend anybody that is involved in agriculture in any way to attend the conference,” Adrienne Synatschk, TFB’s YF&R Advisory Committee chair, said. “Large farmers, small farmers, ag industry professionals and anybody in agriculture ages 18 to 35 are encouraged to attend.”

TFB also encourages college students to participate.

The conference will feature keynotes and breakout sessions focusing on farm economics, estate planning and growing businesses.

“It’s important for young farmers and ranchers to join us at the spring conference because it is a great way to network, as well as touch on and learn more about the issues that are affecting us as young producers,” Synatschk said. “Texas is such a diverse state when it comes to agriculture, but we all face similar challenges. The conference is a good way for everybody to come together, discuss the challenges we face, celebrate our successes and really learn from one another.”

The conference will also feature the Collegiate Discussion Meet, which is a roundtable discussion of agricultural topics.

To participate, contestants must be between the ages of 18 and 35, enrolled in an undergraduate degree program and must have an interest in agriculture.

The winner will take home a $2,500 cash award and will receive expense-paid trips to the TFB Annual Meeting in December and the American Farm Bureau Collegiate Discussion Meet in February 2024.

The runner-up will receive a $1,500 cash prize and an expense-paid trip to the TFB Annual Meeting.

The remaining finalists will each receive $750.

Registration for the YF&R Spring Conference and Collegiate Discussion Meet is available online through MyTFB and closes Friday, March 3.

Additional registration information, including costs and the signup link, can be found online at texasfarmbureau.org/YFR.