MFBF Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee Building Leaders for Tomorrow through Scholarships, Golf and Fellowship
There’s only so many hours in a day, but when the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee gets together, they squeeze all they can out of each second.
From golfing…to raising donations for the Y-F and R scholarship fund to fellowship and fun to developing leadership skills. By the end, everyone benefits from participants to committee members, even the full Federation.
“We’re all on the same team and we’re all facing the same battles, and to be able to unify and form friendships that are going to last a lifetime from somebody that lives on the Gulf Coast and somebody that lives on the state line,” said Jay Slater, 2025 Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee Chairman.
“They promote us. They lobby for us. They do all the things that most people aren’t aware of in the state,” said Victoria Darden, Issaquena County row crop producer and first year Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee member. “Our young people really need to know that there is a group out there that is looking out for us and trying to better the future and make it a better atmosphere than what we had.”
Issaquena County’s Victoria Darden has seen firsthand how important membership in Farm Bureau really is. The Federation and staff fought side by side with Darden and other south Delta farmers imploring the Federal Government to finish the pumps.
“I really kind of got introduced with Farm Bureau in 2019 when the flood happened,” said Darden. “I really found out more of what Farm Bureau does for us and it really made a difference in our daily lives, and I wanted to be a part of that.”
Now, Darden joins the Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee as a first-year member. It’s a step so many have benefited from growing in this organization.
“Our work hours are different from normal people’s work hours. I think getting to build those relationships with different people from different parts of the state, as well as getting to see that we do familiar work and the ways in how we raise our families,” said Catherine Weaver, Washington County row crop producer and retiring Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee member. “It’s good to build those relationships with other young couples who are kind of in the same step of life as you.”
“They make it easy, they make it fun,” said Lewis Norman, Covington County beef producer and second year Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee member. “They give you that leadership quality you can take on later in life.”
The first step is simply to attend a meeting. From there, Farm Bureau develops these young farmers into a voice for agriculture. Current committee chair, Tishomingo County’s Jay Slater says it’s about growing the future leaders of Farm Bureau.
“This committee gives the young farmers and ranchers the opportunity to have a leadership role at an early age in our career so one day we can go back to our county Farm Bureaus and be the leaders in our community, be the leaders of the state Farm Bureau Federation in the future,” said Slater.
The Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee brings farm families together several times a year from across the state. On this day, the Gary Langley Memorial Golf Tournament is the committee’s big fundraiser for their yearly scholarship efforts. Each year, the Young Farmers and Ranchers program helps college students pursuing agriculture related degrees continue their education.
Another way young farmers and ranchers impacts the state through Farm Bureau and agriculture.
“I’m really excited to learn a lot more about the whole organization and Farm Bureau. You know, every time I spend time with other people on the committee, I’m learning a lot more,” said Jack Jameson, Clay County beef producer and first year Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee member. “But, just politically, Farm Bureau is a huge advocate and voice for the farmer who often feels like they’re unheard and I just hope I can be able to be a part of that.”
“The opportunities are just endless you know with Farm Bureau. That’s why I’m excited to a part of it,” said Kash Miller, Covington County beef producer and first year Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee member.
By cultivating, innovating and elevating, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation and the Young Farmers and Ranchers are growing more than food and fiber across the state.
“Being involved in YF&R is just a great opportunity to give back to the Farm Bureau Federation that’s done so much for our industry, for our careers, for our farms, for our families, for rural Mississippi and rural America,” said Slater.