Conference helps Missouri young farmers and ranchers network

by Carah Hart, posted March 16, 2010

More than 530 Young Farmers and Ranchers members met at their annual conference at Tan-Tar-A resort in the Lake of the Ozarks, over Valentine’s Day weekend.

The Young Farmers and Ranchers members spent the weekend in divisional meetings and seminars to discuss new legislative processes, how to defend production agriculture against animal rights activists and how to educate others about Missouri’s agriculture industry.

Kruse said the best thing about the conference is the ability for members across the state to network with others about their farm operations and it provides diverse opportunities to get involved in Missouri’s agriculture industry.

“I love to see people get involved in Young Farmers and Ranchers; they are enthusiastic about agricultural knowledge, and I know the future of agriculture is in good hands,” Kruse said.

The Missouri Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers have been around for more than 30 years and are still growing strong. Missouri has the largest Young Farmers and Ranchers Conference in the nation: bringing together members, their families and collegiate chapters to learn more about agriculture and Farm Bureau.

The Young Farmers and Ranchers also have a state committee consisting of sixteen couples representing eight regions of Missouri: two couples per region.

Glen Cope, a chairman of the Missouri Farm Bureau Young Farmer’s and Ranchers Committee and advisory member of Missouri Farm Bureau Board of Directors has enjoyed this year’s conference.

“I like meeting others in Missouri’s agriculture industry, learning new ideas about agriculture production and looking forward to the future of agriculture,” Cope said.

Cope was newly elected to his leadership positions at the annual Farm Bureau meeting in December. He said the conference was also fun to prepare and it takes the full two months between the annual meeting in December and the conference to prepare for a great weekend of learning about the agriculture industry, but he said the hard work is worth it.

The University of Missouri’s Collegiate Farm Bureau attended the conference and members are excited to share what they have learned with others at the university.

See Yang, an active member and officer of Collegiate Farm Bureau said the conference was strongly based on standing up for agriculture and with all she’s learned, she feels like now she could truly do her part for agriculture.

“At the conference, I learned how to be a better advocate for agriculture and how to approach those who lack agricultural literacy and share my story,” Yang said.

Yang also said she learned about the Humane Society of the United States and its motives regarding production agriculture.

To become a Young Farmer and Rancher member, one needs to be between the ages of 18 and 35. Becoming involved means creating an opportunity for young adults to become actively involved in a division of Missouri Farm Bureau.

Brenda Arnold, president of Mizzou’s Collegiate Farm Bureau thinks the Young Farmers and Ranchers Conference is an important opportunity to mingle not only with other collegiate members and young farmers from across the state, but also with state staff: the networking opportunities are endless.

“I will use the knowledge I gained at the conference to better our chapter at Mizzou,” Arnold said.

Mizzou Collegiate Farm Bureau works hand-in-hand with Missouri Farm Bureau on current issues in agriculture.

“After graduation, if my county can sponsor me, I can definitely see myself pursuing membership of the Young Farmers and Ranchers in the future,” Arnold added.

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