White County Young Farmers And Ranchers Win State Award

The White County Young Farmers and Ranchers program recognized as the state’s outstanding program.

The program is judged among all the other county programs in the state. Criteria is based on a county’s Young Farmers and Ranchers program involvement with service projects and safety promotion within the local agriculture community. White County Program Chair Baylee Bain said everyone put in a lot of work this past year.

“Really just getting involved with the agriculture community in our county, and we’ve been really showing up the last few years and really trying to get involved more,” Bain said. “So, I think that really just implements that we really are doing a good job.”

The Young Farmers and Ranchers program promotes leadership skills for farmers ages 18-35. Bain said this is the first time White County has won the award. Bain said the average age of farmers is going up, and the program encourages young people to get involved with agriculture.

“Young Farmers and Ranchers is a great bridge from FFA, so Future Farmer’s of America,” Bain said. “It really helps our beginning farmers get involved in the Ag community and take on that role as a farmer. We need younger beginning farmers to get more involved.”

If you are interested in joining Young Farmers and Ranchers, every county in Tennessee participates in the program and to get involved contact your local Farm Bureau office.

“It’s a great way to stay involved in your agriculture community, build relationships and network among other people in the state,” Bain said. “We go to conventions four times a year, so we are networking and getting involved with other agriculturalists across the state.”