slideshow

CHARLESTON — Newberry County residents Garrett Setzler, Brett Setzler, Kevin Brehmer, Jessica Bowers, Seth Allen, Tabith Shaw, Ben Bowers, Sloan Mayer, Nathan Mayer, Katie Shaw, Jimmie Lee Shaw, Brantley Satterwhite and Steve Satterwhite were among a group of more than 150 young farmers from across the state attending the recent South Carolina Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Conference in Charleston recently.

Conference attendees had the opportunity to participate in many workshops including 2013 crop and cattle outlooks, specialty crop opportunities, estate planning, farm financials, and a cooking demonstration using SC Grown produce just to name a few. In addition, young farmers had an opportunity to network with other growers from across our state as well as officials from the South Carolina Department of Agriculture and Clemson University.

Since its beginning in 1972 the SCFB Young Farmer & Rancher (YF&R) Program has played a prominent role in the SC Farm Bureau organization.

“Farm Bureau has a strong tradition and heritage representing farmers,” said Faith Lawrimore, SCFB Young Farmer & Rancher coordinator. “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. I am encouraged by their successes, as well as their enthusiasm, creativity and innovation.”

She said all of those qualities are needed for the continued progress of agriculture in South Carolina.

“Today’s young farmers and ranchers have greater opportunities to succeed than the generations before them,” she said. “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.