By Shelby Shank
Field Editor

Students in the graduating classes of 2026 and 2027 participated in Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) district Engage events.

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

Students engaged with community leaders in agriculture and western industries, gained insight about the free enterprise system, developed a personal brand and learned how to have an engaging presence on social media platforms, as well as learned more about youth opportunities provided by TFB.

“Engage leaves a lasting impact on students who participated and gives them an opportunity to network with peers across their Farm Bureau district,” McKenna Bush, TFB Youth Outreach coordinator, said. “The program builds upon skills students are establishing through 4-H, FFA and FCCLA and encourages them to be active members in their communities.”

A total of 366 students across the state participated in Engage this summer.

“Engage is a unique program, encouraging students to take advantage of opportunities available to them as high school students and in the future as young leaders,” Bush said.

Students had the opportunity to tour a local agricultural operation as part of each event.

“The tours allowed the students to see an agricultural business, farm or ranch in their area and connect with local producers in their communities,” Bush said.

Students who participate in the Engage event are eligible to compete in TFB’s Free Enterprise Speech Contest. This contest is at the district-level where students prepare and deliver their speech via video recording. Prizes for the top three competitors in each district include: first place, $250 cash prize; second place, $150 cash prize; and third place, $75 cash prize.

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/.