By Shelby Shank
Field Editor

Fifteen young farmers and ranchers from across the state were selected to serve on Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) 2026 Young Farmer & Rancher (YF&R) Advisory Committee.

Each individual will serve a one-year term.

The advisory committee plays a key role in shaping and promoting programs that encourage young farmers and ranchers to become involved in Farm Bureau at the local, state and national levels.

“Young farmers and ranchers need, now more than ever, a space to plant and cultivate relationships, knowledge, and skills to make themselves and their operations successful within agriculture,” Ryan Yeatts, YF&R Advisory Committee chair, said. “The YF&R program creates this space through opportunities to network and develop skills, further information transfer and knowledge base, as well as provide hands-on learning and leadership development.”

The committee is responsible for planning the YF&R Spring Conference, Fall Tour and select regional meetings to provide hands-on learning, leadership development and networking opportunities

Committee members also visit Washington, D.C. and the state capitol to discuss agricultural issues.

“The YF&R Advisory Committee helps grow the future of Texas Farm Bureau and Texas agriculture,” Yeatts said. “Serving on the committee is an opportunity to make a real impact by collaborating with fellow young producers who are passionate and dedicated about building up the next generation of leaders.”

It is also an opportunity for committee members to grow their network and develop their leadership skills to benefit agriculture, their community and Farm Bureau.

The 2026 YF&R Advisory Committee members are:

  • Ryan Yeatts (chair) – Montague County
  • Zachary Mengers (vice chair) – Bee County
  • Zach Altman – Hall-Donley County
  • Matthew Boerner – Cooke County
  • John (Gus) Bluntzer – Nueces County
  • Haley Clampit – Gonzales County
  • Alexis Hargrove – Bosque County
  • Kade Hodges – Coke-Sterling County
  • McCrae McCormick – Floyd County
  • Madisson Morgan – Brazoria-Galveston County
  • Kaleb Nowlin – Comanche County
  • Athlyn Roberts – Coleman County
  • Sarah Roderick – El Paso County
  • Jessi Schur – Hale County
  • Ross Vinson – Taylor County

Learn more about the YF&R program at texasfarmbureau.org/YFR.