Young Farmers Cultivate Their Future in Agriculture

July 2021

Florida Farm Bureau will hold its State Young Farmers and Ranchers Leadership Conference, themed “Cultivate Tomorrow” at the Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa, this week, July 9-11, 2021.

More than 225 young farmers and ranchers will attend informative breakout sessions on current agricultural issues and learn how to promote agriculture in their own communities.

“We are excited to have an in-person conference this year and welcome such a diverse group of young agriculturists to this year’s gathering,” said Leadership Programs Coordinator Michele Curts. “Our young farmers and ranchers are the future of agriculture and we are excited to provide them with life-long skills and networking opportunities to prepare them to continue their farming legacy.”

Keynote speaker Michelle Miller, or Farm Babe, will share her thoughts on how to better communicate agriculture’s story and help bridge the gap between consumers and rural food producers. Breakout sessions will address an array of agricultural-related topics, including advocating during a pandemic, time management, building your network, financing, commodity updates and opportunities for CEU credits.

In addition to engaging breakout sessions, the conference will highlight how young farmers give back to their community through the County Activity Awards banquet on Friday, July 9.

This year’s conference will host the semi-final rounds of Florida Farm Bureau’s 2021 Discussion Meet competition, which will take place on Friday, July 9. The competition gives young agriculturalists the opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas in a simulated committee meeting. The Final Four Discussion Meet contestants will be announced on Saturday, July 10. The finalists for both the Excellence in Agriculture and the Achievement in Agriculture competitions will be announced on Sunday, July 11. All finalists will advance to the Florida Farm Bureau Annual Convention in October.

A conference agenda is available on the event page.

Photo caption: Young farmers and ranchers statewide last met for the annual Young Farmers and Ranchers Leadership Conference in 2019 in Daytona Beach.