By Shelby Shank
Field Editor

Young farmers, ranchers and agricultural professionals learned about different production practices and connected with industry experts and others in agriculture during meetings hosted by Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) Young Farmer & Rancher (YF&R) Advisory Committee.

The one-day meetings brought educational and networking opportunities closer to farmers and ranchers who may not be able to attend larger, multi-day events.

The meetings were held in Carrizo Springs, San Angelo and Lubbock. Each focused on commodities and farming practices unique to the region.

“Many young farmers and ranchers want to grow their operations but may not have an entire weekend to step away from the farm or ranch for events like Spring Conference or Fall Tour,” said Ryan Yeatts, YF&R Advisory Committee chair. “These regional meetings offered a closer, one-day opportunity to provide practical ideas participants could take home and apply to their operations.”

In Carrizo Springs, attendees toured Dixondale Farms, a family owned cantaloupe and onion transplant farm. Participants learned about produce and visited the farm’s packing facility.

The visit also led to a new connection that is helping provide fresh produce to families in need.

“We learned some produce didn’t meet retailer specifications, despite still being perfectly good to eat. Through the regional event, we connected the farmer with his local County Farm Bureau to participate in the Farmers Feeding Families program with his produce,” Yeatts said. “As a result, the farm is now donating that produce to a local food bank, providing more than $50,000 worth of fresh produce. And that whole connection was built through a regional meeting.”

Sheep and goat production was the focus of the San Angelo meeting. Experts from Angelo State University discussed small-ruminant production, and participants took part in a carcass breakdown demonstration and tasting panel to better understand meat quality and consumer preferences.

The final regional meeting in Lubbock featured row crop production. Participants toured Bayer Crop Science and visited local agricultural cooperatives to learn more about advancements in crop production and cotton research.

The meetings helped participants build relationships with others in their regions.

“We’ve heard individuals feel like they’ve gained a lot of knowledge from these events and felt like they were able to connect with people in their area that they may not have met before,” Yeatts said.

The meetings also introduced new participants to TFB and the YF&R program.

“One participant had such a great experience and enjoyed both the program and the people they met that they signed up for Fall Tour that same day,” he said. “Since then, they’ve attended additional Farm Bureau events and are planning to attend Annual Meeting and compete in YF&R contests. It really shows how a single event can connect someone to all the opportunities Texas Farm Bureau has to offer.”

Additional regional meetings will be held in 2027.

For more questions about the YF&R program, contact youngfarmers@txfb.org or visit texasfarmbureau.org/YFR.