By Shelby Shank
Field Editor

A new exchange program offers Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) Young Farmer & Rancher (YF&R) Advisory Committee members the opportunity to explore different areas of Texas agriculture and meet with Farm Bureau leaders across the state.

“The Young Farmer & Rancher Exchange Program is an opportunity for members of the Young Farmer & Rancher Advisory Committee to expose themselves to agriculture in different parts of Texas,” said Roger Hall, TFB associate director of Organization Division, Leadership Development. “This is an initiative taken by the Young Farmer & Rancher Advisory Committee to visit other Farm Bureau districts, learn more about Texas agriculture and visit with county and state Farm Bureau leaders.”

Each member of the YF&R Advisory Committee is assigned to visit a TFB district that is not their own to explore and better understand Texas agriculture.

As part of the program, the committee member meets with the district’s TFB state director, local farmers and ranchers, attends a county Farm Bureau board meeting and gives a presentation on their YF&R experience.

Ryan Yeatts
Montague County rancher, Ryan Yeatts visited District 7 and toured agriculture in West Central Texas.

He began his visit attending a Mills County Farm Bureau board meeting, gaining valuable insight into their approaches to promoting agriculture. He observed the differences in how the Mills County board operates compared to Montague County.

“We’re both still promoting agriculture, but they’re promoting agriculture through more ag education because they have larger school systems where Montague County focuses on consumer outreach,” Yeatts said.

At Ignition Land Services, Yeatts met with Justin Hale, a young farmer in Johnson County, about his career in agriculture and starting his own business.

“He found a niche market and started his own business,” Yeatts said. “He bought a drone and has his commercial pesticide and herbicide license and began spraying fields and pastures for clients.”

During his visit to Beaty Cattle Company in De Leon, Yeatts learned about their family-owned ranch, which specializes in raising grass-fed and grain-finished beef.

While there, Yeatts had the opportunity to engage with a group of students from Tarleton State University who were visiting the ranch. He shared with students the various opportunities and programs offered by TFB and YF&R. This interaction inspired Yeatts. He hopes to invite students to his own ranch and promote agricultural education and Farm Bureau.

From there, Yeatts traveled to Moran to meet with TFB District 7 State Director Sam Snyder.

“That was an interesting drive because you go from De Leon to Moran and the landscape completely changes in just a matter of minutes,” Yeatts said. “So, that was really interesting to be able to see the diversity of agriculture that’s out there and visit with Sam.”

Yeatts heard about the history of Snyder’s ranch and how his family became involved in agriculture. They discussed the difficulties Snyder is facing after two years of drought.

At the end of his visit, Yeatts reflected on the similarities and differences between District 7 and District 3, where he calls home. While pasture conditions and approaches to agricultural promotion may vary, the passion for agriculture is rooted in both areas.

Sarah Galloway
Sarah Galloway, an agricultural teacher from Seagoville in Dallas County, was assigned to visit District 13. The trip gave her a broad view of agriculture in the Rio Grande Valley and Coastal Bend region.

“We covered a very diverse area and saw a lot of agriculture that’s different than what’s in North Texas,” Galloway said.

Originally from District 4, Galloway traveled south where she began her trip with a board meeting with San Patricio County Farm Bureau. They discussed several programs they are conducting, including a program focused on agricultural safety and moving equipment on roadways.

While in District 13, Galloway experienced Milo harvest. She rode in the combine with Scott Frazier as he was harvesting and noted the season was cut short because of a lack of rainfall.

“They ended up harvesting about a week and half to two weeks early,” she said.

She also met with TFB District 13 State Director Brian Jones. He discussed the severe water issues they are facing in the Valley, which have affected his ability to irrigate his crops and forced him to leave some fields unplanted.

“That’s rough on him because he has ground that he didn’t even plant this year because of the water issue in the Rio Grande Valley,” Galloway said. “He’s really taking a hit in his livelihood because of the water situation.”

Galloway’s visit also included touring a corn bagging facility, visiting with Troy Nedbalek on his San Patricio County farm and learning about beef cattle in the Valley with Gio Benitez.

Program impacts
The YF&R Advisory Committee members noted the exchange program broadened their expertise and emphasized networking within Farm Bureau districts.

The exchange program ultimately aims to strengthen state agricultural networks, ensuring that participants learn new ideas and strategies to share with fellow committee members and their county programs.

For more information about TFB’s YF&R Advisory Committee and YF&R program, visit texasfarmbureau.org/YFR.