By Justin Walker
Communications Specialist
Young producers will get a look at West Texas agriculture through the 2019 Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) Young Farm & Rancher (YF&R) Fall Tour. It’s an opportunity for farmers and ranchers between the ages of 18 and 35 to meet with fellow producers and learn about other agricultural perspectives.
This year’s tour is set for Sept. 6-8 in San Angelo and will focus on livestock and crop production, along with current research efforts in agriculture.
“The tour is an opportunity to help strengthen relationships, form new friendships and learn from other producers across the state,” Whit Weems, TFB director of Organization, said. “Production agriculture plays a crucial role in the state’s economy. Crops, livestock, value-added products—it all adds up to impact Texas.”
And in the Lone Star State, agriculture revs the economic engine to the tune of more than $100 billion annually.
“That’s an impressive number and a market young farmers and ranchers can jump into,” Weems said. “But learning from other farmers and ranchers through the Fall Tour will allow them to take home new ideas they can implement. This event can also help them evaluate what they’re doing back at home by visiting someone else’s farm.”
The Fall Tour also helps offer a greater understanding of the diversity in Texas agriculture.
“We all face many of the same challenges, but each region of our state has challenges that are unique to that area,” Melody Kneupper, TFB YF&R Advisory Committee chair, said. “There’s so much to learn, and even if it doesn’t relate exactly to what we do, we can study those ideas, production practices or budget strategies. It can be a starting point to help get you where you want to go.”
The three-day tour will feature farm and ranch visits, industry tours, discussions on current agriculture research and opportunities to network with other participants.
“Visiting this area of Texas will give young agricultural professionals—farmers, ranchers, business owners, teachers or anyone interested in agriculture—a glimpse into producers’ management strategies and production methods,” Weems said.
Registration is open through Aug. 15. There are two registration packages participants may select from that will include lodging, meals, transportation and the cost of all tours. A third registration package is available for those who do not require lodging.
Interested members can learn more and register for the tour online at www.texasfarmbureau.org/YFR.
For assistance with registration, contact Chrystal Gardner at 254-751-2489 or at youngfarmers@txfb.org.
Contact Weems at 254-399-5030 or wweems@txfb.org with questions.