By Shelby Shank
Field Editor

A look at the free enterprise system, engaging with community leaders in agriculture, developing a personal brand and learning more about youth opportunities provided by Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) were a part of the District 8 Engage event.

Engage is an event hosted in each of the 13 TFB districts as part of TFB’s Student Success Series.

“Engage is a unique program. It encourages students to take advantage of opportunities available to them as high school students and in the future as young leaders,” McKenna Bush, TFB Youth Outreach coordinator, said. “The program leaves a lasting impact on students who participated and gives them an opportunity to network with peers across their Farm Bureau district.”

Students started the day learning about TFB’s history and mission to be the Voice of Texas Agriculture.

A panel discussion included TFB field staff, board of directors and Young Farmer & Rancher committee members. They shared their experiences with the organization and their involvement in agriculture.

“I enjoyed listening to experts in agriculture, more specifically in my community, through this event,” Nora Pacheco, sophomore at Midlothian Heritage High School, said. “From members of TFB to agricultural professionals, we were able to tackle and ask questions about some of the impacts agriculture has and issues facing the industry.”

The panelists included TFB District 8 State Director Mickey Edwards, TFB Young Farmer & Rancher Advisory Committee chair Jay Clark, TFB Young Farmer & Rancher Advisory Committee member Emilee Haubner and TFB Field Representative Ty Tidwell.

Students participated in an activity simulating a market environment. One group determined how much they were willing to pay for a product, while the other group decided how much they were willing to sell the product for. Once the values were revealed, they negotiated to reach an equilibrium price and better understand the free enterprise system.

“Engage and the Student Success Series builds on previous years of knowledge by providing hands-on learning activities with professionals across agriculture,” Pacheco said.

A demonstration on personal branding taught students how to identify their core values and empower them to share their stories and passions with a wider audience.

Students heard from Michael Moon, a farmer and rancher in Bell County, about his involvement in agriculture and Farm Bureau. He has farmed and ranched for 45 years, raising cattle and custom hay baling. He previously worked with the Texas A&M University Research Center and Blackland Research & Extension Center. Moon taught students how to set their goals and work to achieve them.

Students develop skills, connect with community leaders through Engage event High school students develop their skillset by connecting with community leaders and learning entrepreneurship at Texas Farm Bureau’s district 8 Engage event.

The event concluded with a tour at Texas State Technical College (TSTC) learning about the different programs offered. Participants took a closer look at TSTC’s Instrumentation and Diesel Tech programs and how agriculture is involved in both industries.

The district event took place at the TFB Conference Center in Waco May 30.

“The Student Success Series has created multiple opportunities for me to learn and participate in agriculture,” Pacheco said. “Texas Farm Bureau provides so much support locally and on the state level for agriculture students. Not participating in these events would be a major loss and disadvantage.”

Additional programs will be held this summer and fall for the remaining Student Success Series programs: Jumpstart, Activate and Thrive.

For more information about youth programs and activities, visit texasfarmbureau.org/youth/youth-opportunities/.