By Shelby Shank
Field Editor
Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) Thrive event helped motivate and inspire high school seniors to be future leaders in agriculture.
The three-day event, focused on leadership development and strengthening public speaking skills. Students also learned about the free enterprise system, personal branding, agricultural advocacy and financial management.
Over 100 students across Texas attended the event.
“Thrive was designed to help high school students identify their personal strengths and talents, while also inspiring them to develop skills for future careers and advocating for agriculture,” McKenna Bush, TFB Youth Outreach coordinator, said.
Sessions
Students practiced their public speaking skills with Jeff Klose, an agricultural science teacher and FFA advisor at Canyon High School, who guided them through the fundamentals of effective communication. Elizabeth Galbreath, founder and CEO of Cultivate Growth Co., then challenged students to apply those skills to build careers and relationships that make a lasting impact.
“Through Thrive, I’ve really grown in my knowledge and professionalism,” Kade Davis, a senior from Johnson County, said. “Listening to industry leaders speak and having conversations with them has helped me learn more about the industry and the opportunities within agriculture.”
Hands-on sessions included media engagement training, where students participated in mock TV interviews and created social media content. Students also discussed agricultural issues and how to advocate for agriculture.
“My favorite sessions were the social media and personal branding workshops,” Kenley Pack, a senior from Erath County, said. “They go hand in hand, and it was eye-opening to see how much of a role social media plays in scholarships, internships and even job opportunities. I picked up so many tips and tricks to navigate it better.”
Student experiences
In addition to leadership training, Thrive encourages students to build connections that benefit them both personally and professionally.
“The connections you make here are so valuable, especially going into our senior year as we start thinking about college,” Davis said. “It’s great to get to know people on a personal level and build relationships that could lead to future opportunities.”
Students also had the opportunity to engage with industry experts on topics like careers, leadership, legislation and how to be a strong agricultural advocate.
“I’ve always been interested in Congress, so getting to hear from someone who actually works on Capitol Hill was eye-opening,” Davis said. “Learning about all the opportunities and internships in D.C. definitely got me excited and gave me something to look forward to in college.”
For students like Pack, who has participated in the Student Success Series since eighth grade, Thrive was a culmination of years of leadership growth with Texas Farm Bureau.
“These events not only help us build connections, but they give us valuable information and kind of a head start compared to other high school seniors,” Pack said. “We’re learning things that will really help us as we move forward in our careers.”
About the event
Students who attended Thrive are eligible to participate in TFB’s AgVentures Challenge and win associated scholarships, as well as apply for the TFB Dick Mitchell Memorial Scholarship.
Thrive is a part of TFB’s Student Success Series, which includes programs for students in eight through twelfth grades. The Student Success Series aims to help students develop a better understanding of advocacy, learn more about Farm Bureau and grow personal and professional skills they can use in the classroom and future careers.
Thrive was held Aug. 1-3 in Waco at TFB’s Conference and Training Center.
For more information about the Student Success Series, visit texasfarmbureau.org/student-success-series.
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