Jekyll Island, GA

There was plenty of fellowship, learning, and friendly competition this year on Jekyll Island as the Georgia Farm Bureau held its annual Young Farmer and Rancher Summer Leadership Conference – an event that shines a spotlight on a part of the organization that is essential to the future of the ag industry.

“This week we have had over two hundred young farmer and ranchers from across the state with us really for the opportunity to network and get together and experience professional and personal growth. It’s kind of our opportunity for the year to recognize the accomplishments of our young farmer members and also invest in them to go back to their counties and do the work of Farm Bureau and our grassroots organization,” says Breanna Berry, GFB Leadership Programs Coordinator.

The importance of the yearly event can’t be overstated, as Berry says it gives young farmers who are either just starting out or who are more established both a better knowledge, they can take home and a network of connections that can help them succeed in the industry.

“The biggest benefit to them is to build their professional network and to build that community of ag professionals that they can call on, that they can ask questions to especially if you’re a new producer starting out, or if you’ve got some experience, maybe there’s some new innovative ideas that are out there that you’re able to grab ahold of and take home, so, I would say they get a lot of content information and obviously professional development through breakout sessions, but the contacts and connections and network that they are building while they’re here allows them to continue that learning and professional development when they go home,” says Berry.

Of course, no conference would be complete without a theme, and this year, that theme was “For the Love of Ag”, in which Cleve Jackson, District one Committee Chair says describes the passion producers have for the industry and the opportunities a conference like this one can offer them.

“For the Love of Ag I think just encapsulates everything that is important to us,” says Jackson. “We do this because we love agriculture, we want to be better advocates for agriculture in our home counties but also for the state of Georgia and the opportunities we have here at conference just further that love of agriculture.”

To show that passion and love for the industry, YF&R members participated in their first ever service project, in which members packaged meals for food banks in the area – something Jackson says proves just how committed farmers and ranchers are to not only growing a great product, but making sure it enriches those they grow it for.

“The service project was something we’ve always considered doing, we always support the Harvest for All campaign through our county farm bureaus and it’s a really great thing to give money, but taking it to the next level when you actually give your time and energy to pack those meals,” says Jackson. “We had the opportunity to package thirteen thousand meals for food bank recipients right here in Glynn County, which is just awesome. My favorite part was there was a sticker on each box that said, ‘these meals were packaged by Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers,’ so as those folks receive those meals, they’ll know that not only did we grow those meals but we also packaged them and sponsored them and delivered them to those folks which I think just puts what we talk about, what we say, what we do; it puts those words into action.”

By: John Holcomb