Young Farmers & Ranchers hold annual conference in Orlando

More than 150 of Florida Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers gathered July July 19 and 20 at the Hilton in the Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista. This year’s conference offered programs on financial management, handling interpersonal conflict, and the often-complex and emotion ridden process of generational succession – that is, the process of transferring ownership of family farming operations to the next generation. Patrick Grady, a popular motivational speaker and trainer from Wahoo, Fla. presented programs on personal organization and stress management.

“The Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher program at both the state and national levels are aimed at building future leaders for the industry and Farm Bureau,” said Florida Farm Bureau President John L. Hoblick. “As an alumnus of both programs, I can attest to the program’s effectiveness.”

Hosted by the state YF&R Leadership Group, this annual conference welcomes Farm Bureau leaders between the ages of 18 and 35 from all over the state. The leadership group is currently made up of 13 couples and individuals who are appointed to participate in a two-year program aimed at preparing them for leadership positions in Farm Bureau and the agricultural industry. Other Young Farmers & Ranchers are active with their county Farm Bureaus.

The group honored the three Outstanding Young Farmer & Rancher finalists for 2008. They are St. Johns County grower Jeb Smith, Lafeyette County dairyman Keith Shiver and Polk County citrus producers and processors Larry and Jenny Black. The winner of the competition will be announced at the Florida Farm Bureau annual meeting Oct. 8-10 at the Peabody Hotel in Orlando and will receive a new Dodge Ram Quad Cab pickup courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Insurance Companies and will represent Florida in the national competition next January in San Antonio. The national winner will receive a new Dodge Ram 3500 SLT Quad Cab 4x4 pickup courtesy of Dodge and a $2,500 project voucher from Syngenta Crop Protection.
The Florida Farm Bureau Federation is the state’s largest general-interest agricultural association with about 140,000 member-families statewide. Headquartered in Gainesville, the Federation is an independent, nonprofit agricultural organization. More information about Florida Farm Bureau is available on the organization’s website, http://FloridaFarmBureau.org.