Young Farmers & Ranchers Program Builds the Next Generation of Mississippi Agricultural Leaders
The Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) program is shaping the future of agriculture by equipping Farm Bureau members ages 18 to 35 with leadership skills, essential networks, and a sense of shared purpose. At this year’s annual YF&R Leadership Conference, rising producers from across the state described how the program is transforming both their operations and their lives.
For Alex Holtcamp, the experience over the years has made a profound impact.
“Coming to the YF&R meetings has been a huge positive experience in my life,” said Alex Holtcamp. “I get to network with other young farmers and ranchers… you can grow and connect and develop a friendship or someone you can call and say, ‘hey, I’m thinking about this.’”
His wife, Katie Holtcamp, said the program strengthens both their farm and her own professional skills.
“It’s good for me to go back and tell my clients I’ve invested in myself,” said Katie Holtcamp. “It’s nice to be able to strengthen both skill sets.”
For a first time, conference attendee, Young Farmers and Ranchers offers connection beyond county lines.
Oktibbeha County’s Marc Richardson attended for the first time simply to learn more about YF&R and make friends.
“I didn’t know much about it,” said Richardson. “I was hoping to meet people. It would be nice to have connections across the state. It’s nice to see that I’m not alone out there doing this every day.”
Greene County’s Jeren and Deanna Ferguson say the YF&R community has shaped their family’s future.
“The camaraderie is unmatched,” said Jeren Ferguson. “You see the same wins, the same struggles, and we can all work together.”
For Deanna, watching their children grow up within the agricultural lifestyle makes the work even more meaningful.
“Our four‑year‑old little girl picks up eggs with us,” said Deanna Ferguson. “It’s the most rewarding thing watching them work hard for what we grow.”
Seth Bragg, who serves as a state board member from Alcorn County, said YF&R has helped him grow as both a producer and a leader.
“One of the things that YF&R allowed us to do is develop young farmers in our county, because we were also able to come to the state, learn, and then take back what we learned to our folks back home,” said Bragg.
Carl Davis Parker, a past Young Farmers and Ranchers State Committee Chair, and Mary Claire Parker discovered how YF&R strengthens both their business and their partnership.
Mary Claire described learning what goes into their operation by completing the application process for the Achievement Award contest.
“It gave me a better understanding of how he works… and allowed us to spend more time together,” said Mary Claire Parker.
Carl Davis Parker emphasized how valuable it is to share experiences with other producers at the Young Farmers and Ranchers conference each year.
“You learn a lot about how to deal with certain things,” said Carl Davis Parker. “It’s a big growth experience, prepares us to represent a broad coalition of people.”
Past state YF&R Committee Chair Jay Slater has watched the program transform young producers into confident leaders.
“It’s awesome to see everyone’s growth,” said Slater. “From the young farmer who was shy to someone laughing with people from different corners of the state.”
Jasper County’s Cole and Taylor Avera described their early days in the program as worried they were in over their heads, but the experience opened doors in every aspect of their lives.
“It helped me in my job, on our farm, and our family,” said Taylor Avera. “It lit a fire in me for things I had no desire to do before. The networking definitely broadened our horizons.”
For first time Excellence in Ag contest participant Kelsey Harvey, YF&R is a catalyst for deeper engagement both within Mississippi Farm Bureau and in her work as a MSU instructor.
“This was another example of a way I could do that and learn through it,” said Harvey.
“I want to really get a unified direction on where my research and teaching can go,” she said.
2026 Young Farmers and Ranchers State Committee Chair Sarah Clark hopes participants leave inspired to take what they learn and heard from fellow producers back to their farms and communities.
“I hope people take away fellowship and community involvement,” Clark said. “I hope everybody leaves with a desire to be more involved in Farm Bureau.”
As Amite County’s John Dixon has done by growing participation in YF&R in his county.
“At first it was just me and my wife,” Dixon said. “Now we’ve got about eight of us here.”
And the conversations happening in those groups about the ups and downs for agriculture are exactly what build stronger agricultural communities.
The stories shared at the 2026 Leadership Conference point to one clear truth: Mississippi agriculture’s future is in capable hands. Through connection, mentorship, education, and leadership development, the YF&R program is not just preparing the next generation of farmers and ranchers—it’s uniting them, inspiring them, and giving them the tools to lead the industry forward.