As Kentucky Farm Bureau’s (KFB) Young Farmer State Advisory Committee Chair, I’m looking forward to this year of service.

Having a beef cattle and hay operation on our family farm in Pendleton County, I understand the issues, challenges, and opportunities that young farmers face each day.

Preserving the small family farm is extremely important, not only in Kentucky but across the nation, and we've got to find ways to keep the next generation on or coming back to the farm. KFB plays a vital role in helping make that happen, constantly thinking and trying to do things that would encourage these young farmers to continue in the agriculture industry.

Providing leadership opportunities is one of the keys to encouraging them.  Each year, the winter leadership conference and our summer outing are two of the Young Farmer (YF) events that are kind of the backbone of the program providing an excellent opportunity for young farmers across the state to get together, network, and attend different sessions to learn more about specifics in the industry.

In doing so, our young farmers become more involved in the policy process that is so important to Farm Bureau. We ultimately contribute to our organization’s policy development throughout the entire organization. That grassroots leadership development helps us to provide perhaps a different perspective when it comes to policy issues that are specific to farmers our age.

In addition to the YF program itself, Farm Bureau is helping to develop a new generation of leaders through events like the Excellence in Ag and Discussion Meet competitions, each of which provides leadership development through public speaking, discussing the issues of the day, and showcasing involvement with Farm Bureau, as well as other organizations.

Many of our YF members are also leaders in their respective communities, and what they are learning in Farm Bureau helps in those efforts at the local level, which in turn makes these individuals become better leaders in KFB.

Being involved, at all levels, is extremely important to our organization, especially for our young farm families. I serve as the vice president of our County Fair Board, Pendleton County Youth Fair Board, and the Pendleton County Cattleman's Board.

The same is true for so many of our members, not just the young farmers. This community leadership helps move our organization, as well as our state forward in so many ways.

My advice to new young farmers is, I want them to understand there are going to be a lot of highs and lows. There's certainly a roller coaster ride when you're in the agriculture industry. But, embracing this way of life, it is like no other. There is no higher calling than to provide this state, country, and world with the food, fiber, and fuel we all need to survive.

I would also ask our experienced KFB members to continually encourage our young people whenever they can. Often that mentorship can be the key in getting this next generation to the farm to stay.

Eli Mann, Chair

KFB Young Farmer State Advisory Committee