CFBF Young Farmers and Ranchers Leadership Conference
Save the Dates!
Mar. 21-24, 2013 • Santa Cruz County
Feb. 27-Mar. 2, 2014 • Tulare County
Leadership Conference 2012 summary
We are excited to say that we had record-breaking attendance in 2012! Some highlights of the 2012 YF&R Leadership Conference in Modesto included top notch speakers—Karen Ross, secretary, CDFA; comedian Tim Cavanagh; and nationally recognized agriculturalist Matt Rush—and tours hosted by Stanislaus County YF&R featured E&J Gallo Winery, Foster Farms, Duarte Nursery, Flory Industries, and many more.
Young farmers stress active involvement
A diverse group of young agricultural leaders attended the California Farm Bureau Federation 2012 Young Farmers and Ranchers Leadership Conference last week in Modesto, where close to 200 agriculturists broke attendance records for the annual event.
During the opening session of the conference, CFBF President Paul Wenger addressed YF&R members about the importance of being "Actively Engaged," the theme of this year's event.
"Today, if we are not actively engaged in educating the general public and being involved politically, somebody else is going to be dictating what happens on our farms and ranches, or on your agriculture-associated businesses," said Wenger, who first got involved in Farm Bureau because of the organization's YF&R program. "We need to stay actively engaged to educate the public. Thank you for taking the first step for being advocates for agriculture."
Young Farmers and Ranchers members—farmers, ranchers and agricultural professionals ages 18 to 35—attended the conference to listen to informative speakers, take part in a series of farm tours and participate in breakout sessions on topics that included local and state water issues, financing for farmers' futures, and engaging in politics.
Treefruit growers Michael and Tara Neuharth of Courtland said they became involved in the Sacramento County YF&R chapter a few months ago, after family and friends encouraged them to take part.
Dusty Ference, a member of Tulare County Young Farmers and Ranchers, examines farm machinery at Flory Industries in Salida, one stop on a farm tour included in the 2012 California YF&R Leadership Conference.
"One of my neighbors kept pestering me about checking it out. I kept putting him off and every time I felt worse and worse, so I finally went to a meeting and that's all it took. I've been hooked ever since," Michael Neuharth said. "We're pretty new (to YF&R), but we're not new to farming."
Neuharth agreed with Wenger's statement that farmers must take an active role to be sure the public knows more about agriculture.
"Most people in Sacramento and Elk Grove, for example, have absolutely no idea that there's a delta," he said. "We hope that we can get more people aware of where their food comes from. That is what we're hoping to accomplish."
He added that it is important for young farmers, ranchers and those in agricultural businesses to get involved in YF&R simply because of the declining number of farmers in the United States.
Neuharth recalled that he and his father attended a succession-planning meeting that he called "pretty shocking statistically," because of references to the aging farm population.
During a break in Leadership Conference activities, Michael and Tara Neuharth of Courtland discuss which breakout sessions to attend. The conference, held in Modesto, featured sessions on topics including water issues, political engagement and farm financing.
"The ratio of young people going into farming is quite astonishing and almost disappointing," he said.
The Neuharths take part in a family farming operation called Steamboat Acres, which specializes in organic Bartlett pears, and also grows organic cherries and conventional crops including winegrapes and wheat.
"One thing I love about YF&R is not everyone is directly involved in agriculture," Tara Neuharth said. "There are a couple of members that are agricultural enthusiasts and it is really cool to be able to explain things to them, because they want to learn about what we do."
Annie Tipton, the YF&R State Committee representative for Plumas-Sierra, Lassen and Modoc counties, described herself as "a complete newbie" to the YF&R program.
Tipton, who grew up on her family's cattle ranch in Sierraville, teaches fourth-graders in Oroville. Eventually, she and her husband Joe would like to start their own cattle ranch. In the meantime, she said she is interested in working toward Plumas-Sierra County Farm Bureau forming its own YF&R chapter.
"YF&R is a fantastic opportunity and great for networking," Tipton said. "Being in the teaching profession, I don't get to do these kinds of activities often, so for me it is a great way to stay connected to farmers and ranchers and stay up to speed on important issues affecting agriculture."
Dusty Ference, a member of Tulare County YF&R and a farm manager for California Clementines in Visalia, said he is interested in all that the program has to offer—networking, leadership building and being a good advocate for agriculture.
"There are countless benefits from Young Farmers and Ranchers. I really enjoy working with a group of people and seeing things from a different point of view. And, if I have a question about a new law, regulation or some sort of a rate increase, I have a network now that I can take that question to and try and get some input," Ference said. "We also have a pretty strong philanthropy aspect in our group, which has been very rewarding. A person gets a lot out of being involved and giving back to their community."
Ference said he feels that opportunities through YF&R are endless.
"I don't think I can say enough about the benefits of Young Farmers and Ranchers," Ference said. "You can really do something great with this organization."