MFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Collegiate Farm Bureau Night Draws Over 300 Students
A lively crowd of over 300 students gathered at the Bost Extension Center on Mississippi State University’s campus Monday night for MFBF’s Young Farmers & Ranchers Collegiate Farm Bureau Night. The event provided an evening of networking, food, and fun for students majoring in or simply interested in agriculture and forestry-related fields.
With students from MSU and nearby community colleges in attendance, the event served as an engaging opportunity for young, up-and-coming members of the agricultural community to get introduced to Farm Bureau and the Young Farmers & Ranchers program. Attendees were welcomed by MFBF President Mike McCormick and Young Farmers & Ranchers Chairman Jay Slater, who shared opening remarks about the importance of fostering the next generation of agricultural leaders.
“This event is about investing in young people who will be the future of agriculture,” said McCormick. “We want students to know that Farm Bureau is here to support them—not just while they’re in school, but throughout their careers.”
Mardi gras themed décor set the stage as students enjoyed a free, catered meal of Cajun classics, including crawfish, red beans and rice, gumbo, shrimp étouffée, and beignet bites. Students who registered for the event were entered in a raffle for door prizes, and groups enjoyed yard games like cornhole and horseshoe after dinner.
For Slater, the event was about more than just good food and fun. “Young people are the future of agriculture in Mississippi, and it’s exciting to see so many students come together with a shared passion,” he said. “Farm Bureau offers so many opportunities for leadership, education, and networking, and we want them to take full advantage of it. A Collegiate Farm Bureau event 10 years ago was my first involvement and exposure to the organization, so it meant a lot to come back to campus and see how this event has grown with so many students involved.”
Gracie Vickers, MSU senior agribusiness management major from West Point, echoed similar sentiments. “My family has been involved in Farm Bureau all my life. Over the last couple of years, I have become involved in the Young Farmers and Ranchers program and am the YF&R chairman in Clay County. The crawfish boil was unlike other events I’ve attended because of the number of college students that attended. I was so pleased to see so many students wanting to be involved. It was an awesome opportunity to connect with others who hold the same values and passion for agriculture that I do,” she said.
Although the food may have been the primary appeal among the students, the networking and outreach opportunities were added benefits that will have lasting effects. Through events like this, MFBF continues to build a strong pipeline of young professionals who will help lead the organization and the agriculture industry in Mississippi in the years to come.
