By Julie Tomascik
Editor
Fueled by passion and hunger for knowledge and leadership, young farmers and ranchers are cultivating the future.
Twenty-five young producers have taken an additional step to assume leadership roles through Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) Young Farmer & Rancher Advisory Committee.
“Our committee will help bring fresh ideas to the Young Farmer & Rancher program and continue to promote the value of Texas Farm Bureau and agricultural advocacy to the younger generation,” Whit Weems, TFB director of Organization, said.
An individual or couple from each district serves two years on the committee.
Through the committee, they plan the Young Farmer & Rancher Leadership Conference, Fall Tour and host district meetings in the spring and summer. The committee also raises money for scholarships each year through a live and silent auction at the TFB annual meeting.
Melody Kneupper serves as chair of the committee. Melody and her husband, Cody, raise cattle, sheep, goats and exotic wildlife on their Kendall County ranch. They also do custom hay baling and own and operate skid steers for clearing brush. The couple represents District 10 on the committee, and they have two daughters.
Joshua Bell serves as the vice chair. He and his wife, Lexi, farm in Yoakum County. They grow peanuts, watermelons and dryland and irrigated cotton. Lexi is an educator for Denver City ISD. The couple represents District 2 on the committee, and they have three children.
Jesse and Karrie Wieners represent District 1 on the committee. They grow cotton, wheat, sorghum, alfalfa, wine grapes and produce in Carson, Gray and Donley counties. They custom farm and own a custom bailing business. Karri also has a photography business. The couple has four children.
The District 3 representatives are Austen and Rachel White. They raise cattle and grow wheat and cotton in Wilbarger County with Austen’s family. They also have a small hay operation. The couple has one daughter.
Clint and Angela Rutledge farm and ranch in Grayson and Collin counties and serve as the District 4 representatives. They grow corn, wheat and soybeans. They also have replacement heifers and a cow-calf operation. Angela is an online teacher for Texas Online Preparatory School. The couple has two daughters.
The District 5 representatives are Garren and Shannon Bellis. They raise a small herd of cattle in Van Zandt County. Garren serves as the ranch manager of Gabriel Ranch, an Angus seedstock operation. Shannon owns and operates BovaTrac International, a company that works on genetic analysis for commercial and crossbred cattlemen. They have two sons.
Slayton and Abby Hoelscher represent District 6 on the committee. They grow cotton, corn and wheat in Tom Green County. They practice minimal till and no-till to help conserve biological activity and reduce erosion. They also own land in other counties that they lease for farming and hunting. Abby is a marketing manager at Mueller Metals, LLC and Spring Creek Products.
Eric and Alisha Schwertner farm and ranch in Runnels County and serve as the District 7 representatives. Their operation consists of cotton, corn, sorghum and wheat. They also grow hay for their cow-calf herd, and Eric runs a custom harvest crew in East Texas. Alisha is also a product manager for Agrian, a farm data software company. They have twin boys.
District 8 is represented by Travis and Kaylin Isbell. They raise commercial cows and dorper sheep. They also manage two other local cow herds and grow winter oats and Sudan grass for hay production. They market their cattle direct to a local feeder calf buyer. Kaylin is also an independent Matilda Jane Trunk Keeper. The couple has two children.
Cody and Madisyn Berry have a small timber operation and farm in Angelina County. They represent District 9 on the committee. Cody is an agricultural science teacher at Hudson ISD and manages a small business that consists of contract mowing. They have one child and one on the way.
Ben and Jessica Rumbaugh represent District 11. They have a cow-calf operation and are certified with the American Grassfed Association. They sell their beef online and direct to consumers. They also grow wheat, corn, soybeans, rice and hay. Jessica is also a licensed real estate broker. They have two childr