By Jennifer Dorsett
Field Editor

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) recently made eight appointments, including Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) members Eric and Alisha Schwertner of Runnels County, to the organization’s Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) committee.

“Continuing to engage with consumers to build trust and share the story of agriculture is an important part of national program committee work, especially now as farmers and ranchers are still farming during the pandemic,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said. “We applaud the commitment of these newly appointed Farm Bureau members.”

The YF&R Committee is comprised of 16 positions representing all regions of the U.S. An individual or couple may hold each committee appointment. Committee members are responsible for program planning, including the coordination of YF&R competitive events during AFBF’s convention each January, and the Harvest for All program.

Duvall announced the appointment of the following members to the YF&R Committee for the 2021-2023 term, which begins in March: Jarad Plair, Florida; Kyle and Jessica Wade, Idaho; Drew DeSutter, Illinois; Justin and Allison McKain, Indiana; Brenda Sisung, Michigan; Tanner and Kerre Clark, Missouri; Charlie and Casey Ellington, Ohio; and the Schwertners.

Eric and Alisha Schwertner farm and ranch in Runnels County, located between San Angelo and Abilene. They grow irrigated and dryland cotton, silage corn, grain sorghum and wheat. They grow hay for their cow-calf herd, and Eric runs a custom harvest crew in East Texas. The couple has twin boys, Lane and Caleb.

An Indiana native, Alisha grew up riding tractors at both of her grandparents’ farms and watching her dad work in agriculture. She majored in agricultural economics and agronomy at Purdue University and took a job after graduation with Agrian, a farm software and technology company.

Eric grew up in Runnels County and continues the family farm legacy. After graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering from Texas Tech University, Eric worked for a fertilizer manufacturer for a few years before coming back to the family farm.

When the opportunity arose for them to move back to Runnels County, the young couple jumped at the chance. They first became interested in TFB’s YF&R programs after attending a fall tour in Amarillo about five years ago.

“I became involved in the county Farm Bureau board and after that first fall tour, we hit it off with a lot of people we met on that trip and had a lot of fun,” Alisha said. “We decided this was something we wanted to continue to be involved with, so we kept going to events over the years and that led us to being on the state YF&R committee.”

The Schwertners currently serve as ex-officio members of TFB’s YF&R Advisory Committee. The couple was also the 2020 District 7 Outstanding YF&R contest winner.

Serving on the AFBF committee is an honor and another example the Schwertners want to set for their children regarding the importance of agriculture.

“We have two little boys we’re very proud of, and we’re excited to raise on the farm,” Eric said. “That’s part of why we do what we do, is because in them, we see the future of agriculture, and we want to continue that.”

National committee members are nominated by their respective state Farm Bureaus.

Learn more about AFBF’s YF&R programs here.