By Shelby Shank
Field Editor
Several young farmers and ranchers from Texas will compete in the 2026 American Farm Bureau Convention set for Jan. 9-14 in Anaheim, Calif.
Layton and Jessi Schur of Hale County
Layton and Jessi Schur will represent Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) in the Achievement Award competition. This contest recognizes the accomplishments of young agricultural leaders between 18 and 35 who actively earn a living from farming or ranching.
The couple has a direct-to-consumer retail store, Frontier Market, in Plainview that provides their community with access to fresh produce and beef from their farm. They manage a 32-acre market garden, growing over 30 seasonal vegetables, and raise Limousin cattle. They also supply beef and produce to farmers markets across the Panhandle.
Layton and Jessi are active in both state Young Farmer & Rancher (YF&R) events and county Farm Bureau activities. Jessi also serves on the Texas Farm Bureau YF&R Advisory Committee. The couple is active in their church where Layton serves as the head elder.
Ryan and Madilyn Yeatts of Montague County
Ryan and Madilyn Yeatts are the TFB representative in the Excellence in Agriculture competition. This competition is designed for young farmers and ranchers ages 18 to 35 who are involved in agriculture but do not earn their primary income from a farm or ranch enterprise.
Ryan works as an operations analyst for Standard Meat Company, a custom meat portioner supplying restaurants, fast food chains and meat kit providers across the country.
Madilyn is an equine and outside sales specialist for D&L Farm and Home. She advises trainers, breeders and ranchers on nutrition programs.
The couple is also active in both county and state Young Farmer & Rancher (YF&R) events and county Farm Bureau activities. Ryan serves as the vice chair on TFB’s YF&R Advisory Committee and as the Youth and YF&R chair for Montague County Farm Bureau.
Sarah Roderick of El Paso County
Roderick will represent TFB in the Young Farmer & Rancher Discussion Meet. Through this contest, Roderick will discuss agricultural issues facing farming farmers and ranchers across the nation and potential solutions to these problems.
Roderick is the events and outreach coordinator for AgSpire, a company that partners with farmers and ranchers to implement sustainable and regenerative practices. She also helps with her family’s cattle operation in Marfa.
Leave A Comment