GFB News Magazine
Meet your peers, sharpen skills with GFB YF&R program
by Breanna Berry
Leadership Programs Coordinator
Posted on February 26, 2024 6:00 PM
Members of the 2024 GFB YF&R Committee are from left: Luke Andrews & not pictured Allie, Lamar Co., GFB 5th Dist.; Cole & Nicole Roper, Franklin Co., 2nd Dist.; Kaitlyn & Kaleb Marchant, Oglethorpe Co., 4th Dist.; Lindsay and Statham Sapp, Wilcox Co., 8th Dist.; Committee Chairs Emilia & Cleve Jackson, Floyd Co., 1st Dist.; Vice Chairman Knapp Boddiford, Screven Co., 7th Dist.; Haley & Seth Scruggs, Bibb Co., 6th Dist.; Kelsie & Ryan Highsmith, Echols Co., 10th Dist.; Camille & Colt Calhoun, Miller Co., 9th Dist.; and Cam Floyd & not pictured, Joni, Douglas Co., 3rd District. /Photo by Jay Stone
This will be an exciting year for participants in Georgia Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) Programs! YF&R opportunities are open to any Farm Bureau member ages 18-35 interested in agriculture. Our program is open to all in this age group who work in any agricultural sector – farming, ranching, ag lenders, ag teachers, ag product representatives, ag marketers, etc. College students with an interest in ag are also welcome.
GFB will hold its annual YF&R Summer Conference July 17-20 on Jekyll Island. This event is a great way for young people who love agriculture to network with other agriculturalists, sharpen their leadership skills, hear updates on current ag issues and learn more about Farm Bureau while having fun. The conference is kid friendly.
A cornerstone of GFB’s YF&R program is our award programs – Achievement Award in Agriculture; Excellence in Agriculture Award; and Discussion Meet. The achievement award recognizes YF&R members for their farming operations and leadership activities. The excellence in agriculture award honors YF&R members who earn most of their income off the farm but are ag advocates. The discussion meet simulates a meeting where participants talk about current ag issues and explore possible solutions.
Award winners will be announced at the summer conference. State winners will represent GFB at the American Farm Bureau Convention next January in San Antonio, Texas.
Registration information for the conference, GFB YF&R awards and the annual YF&R Photo Contest will be released in early March. Look for information on GFB social media or contact your county Farm Bureau.
The application deadline for awards and conference registration is June 1. Photo contest entries are due by June 7.
GFB encourages existing and potential YFR members to apply for our awards and participate in our YF&R activities.
GFB held its 3rd Annual Legislative Drive-In Feb. 12 in conjunction with GFB Day at the Capitol. Johnna Miller of AFBF conducted an advocacy training session to prepare county Women’s Leadership and YF&R Committee members to visit with their legislators. We’ll report more about this event in our next issue.
Visit www.gfb.ag/yfr or contact your county Farm Bureau office for more information about the awards, photo contest and to register for the conference.
Georgia Farm Bureau Leadership Programs Coordinator Breanna Berry may be reached at bcberry@gfb.org or 478-474-0679, ext. 5232 for more information. Contact your county Farm Bureau if you’d like to get involved with your local YF&R program.