GREENVILLE, SC - Young farmers, ages 18-35 from 19 Farm Bureau chapters across South Carolina attended the 2009 Annual South Carolina Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Conference in Greenville, SC.
More than 100 active young farmers spent the weekend continuing their education and developing leadership skills - activities commensurate with the annual conference that has been held since 1973. The SCFB Young Farmer & Rancher (YF&R) Program plays a prominent role in the SC Farm Bureau organization.
SCFB Young Farmer & Rancher Coordinator Faith Lawrimore noted that, “Farm Bureau has a strong tradition and heritage representing farmers. In order for our organization to survive, grow and prosper, it’s imperative to recruit future leaders into the organization. This conference was designed to encourage participants to take the lead in their communities and in Farm Bureau.” Lawrimore added, “I am encouraged by their successes, as well as their enthusiasm, creativity and innovation. All these qualities are needed for the continued progress of agriculture in South Carolina.”
Participants learned about the importance of being safe on the farm, they learned how to tell the story of their farms to young students, and they heard about ways they can become involved in the SC Department of Agriculture's South Carolina Certified program. The farm families from across the state also had opportunities to share stories of their family's farm with each other.
Lawrimore added, “Today’s young famers and ranchers have greater opportunities to succeed than the generations before them. They have more knowledge and information at their disposal and have higher degrees of technology at their fingertips.”
The purpose of the YF&R Program is to develop leadership skills among farmers between the ages of 18 and 35 on county, state, and national levels.
The SC Farm Bureau Federation is a non-profit membership organization formed to promote and preserve the work of family farmers and rural lifestyles across the state. In exchange for their annual dues and financial support of education, promotion, and lobbying efforts on behalf of agriculture and family farmers, Farm Bureau members are entitled to discounts and access to a number of quality products and services.
Persons interested in supporting agriculture are encouraged to contact their county Farm Bureau office or the South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation at www.scfb.org for additional information.
# # # LK 2-17-09 #090 For more information contact Faith Lawrimore 803.936.4409
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