By Shelby Shank
Field Editor

Young farmers, ranchers, agricultural professionals and college students will get a look at agriculture in the Coastal Bend through the 2025 Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) Young Farmer & Rancher (YF&R) Fall Tour.

It’s an opportunity for individuals between the ages of 18 and 35 to network and learn about other agricultural perspectives.

This year’s tour is set for Sept. 4-7 in the Coastal Bend and will highlight agriculture in the region, as well as introduce young people to TFB’s YF&R activities.

“The Fall Tour gives young farmers, ranchers, ag professionals and college students a chance to connect, discover and learn about agriculture in a new region of the state,” Hailey Hayes, TFB YF&R Advisory Committee chair, said. “It’s a fun and educational event, and we’re excited to host it in the Coastal Bend this year.”

The three-day tour will give participants the opportunity to visit farms and ranches, including aquaculture operations. Participants will learn about beef cattle, specialty crops and the challenges of farming and ranching in the Coastal Bend.

A visit to 5B Farms will give participants a look at how the Bowers family raises and harvests catfish. The tour also features a stop at Homegrown Seafood, offering a close-up look at a working shrimp farm.

Other tour stops include Hanslik’s Homegrown Vegetables, where a variety of produce grown in the Coastal Bend will be showcased, and a tour of a cotton gin at United Ag.

“This tour highlights a wide variety of topics that are important to agriculture,” Hayes said. “Fall Tour is a great way to network with others, share our experiences and bring back fresh ideas to implement on our own farms or ranches.”

Registration opens June 12 and closes Aug. 1.

There are two registration packages participants may select from that will include lodging, meals, transportation and the cost of all tours. A third registration package is available for those who do not require lodging.

County Farm Bureaus may help cover the cost of attending the event.

Interested members can learn more about registration costs and register for the tour online at texasfarmbureau.org/YFR.

For questions or assistance with registration, call 254-399-5021 or email youngfarmers@txfb.org with questions.