By Shelby Shank
Field Editor

Several young farmers and ranchers from Texas will compete in the 2025 American Farm Bureau Convention set for Jan. 24-29 in San Antonio.

Outstanding YF&R finalist: Kade and Morgan Hodges Kade and Morgan Hodges raise Royal White sheep, cattle and goats in Sterling County. They also operate a feedyard and graze sheep on solar farms.

Kade and Morgan Hodges of Sterling County
Kade and Morgan 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 raise Royal White sheep, goats and Angus-cross cattle. They formulate rations and mix feed for their feedlot where they finish out a portion of their sheep and goats each year.

They also implement sustainable management practices, such as rotational grazing, on their ranch and also offer vegetation management to solar farms using targeted sheep grazing.

The Hodges both serve on the Coke-Sterling County Farm Bureau board of directors and are involved in Young Farmer & Rancher (YF&R) events and activities at the county, state and national level. Morgan recently served as the vice chair of TFB’s YF&R Advisory Committee.

Excellence in Ag finalist: Jacob Spivey Meet Jacob Spivey. He’s a finalist in TFB’s Excellence in Ag contest. Jacob is an ag teacher and FFA advisor at Warren ISD. His family is also involved in cattle and timber production.

Jacob Spivey of Tyler County
Spivey is the TFB representative in the Excellence in Agriculture competition. This contest 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.

As a high school agricultural science teacher and FFA advisor at Warren ISD, Spivey works with students on livestock and horticultural projects, leaderships skills and trains teams for FFA competitions.

He is an active Tyler County Farm Bureau board member and serves as the secretary, as well as the Youth Activities chair and coordinates the Ag Education Day in his community. In addition, Spivey previously served on TFB’s Forestry Advisory Committee and attended the National Affairs Awards Trip in Washington, D.C.

Paden McDermid of Montgomery County was the winner of the 2024 Texas Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher Discussion Meet during the organization’s 91st Annual Meeting.

Paden McDermid of Montgomery County
McDermid will represent TFB in the Young Farmer & Rancher Discussion Meet. Through this contest, McDermid will discuss agricultural issues facing farmers and ranchers across the nation and potential solutions to these problems.

McDermid is an estimating project manager for 5G Monarch Construction, a real estate development company. His family raises cattle in Montgomery County.

TFB Young Farmer & Rancher program information
For more information about TFB’s Young Farmer & Rancher program, visit texasfarmbureau.org/YFR.

American Farm Bureau Convention information
For more information about the American Farm Bureau Convention, visit annualconvention.fb.org.