Farmers and ranchers meet

This past weekend, Thermopolis was home to the 2018 Wyoming Farm Bureau (WFB) Young Farmer & Rancher Conference. This year's theme was "Springing Outward and Upward."

According to information from Kerin Clark, media and member relations director for WFB, the conference had 45 attendees from around the state. The purpose is to provide a conference for young farmers and ranchers in Wyoming to network with other like-minded individuals and learn through educating and motivating workshop sessions.

The conference is produced by the Wyoming Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher Committee Members. The committee is comprised of young farmers and ranchers (ages 18-35) from all corners of the state.

Clark expressed appreciation for the hospitality of the Hot Springs County Farm Bureau and specifically the Hot Springs County Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher Chair Nick Moline.

The conference sessions ranged from legislative previews to estate planning to advocating for agriculture to outward succession. The conference concluded with an Outward Succession workshop where attendees put pen to paper with their ideas they gained at this conference.

Additionally, those attending toured Merlin's Hideout, the buffalo pasture at the Hot Springs State Park and the Thermopolis Middle School Farm to School program.

Clark stated the Farm to School program at Thermopolis Middle School was very impressive. "It is very neat to see what the program is doing within the school. We were impressed with the students who gave up a Saturday afternoon to come and present their program to us. It was incredible watching their leadership skills and the pride they have in the program. This program inspired many of the participants to visit with their local schools about this idea."

The goal of the Wyoming Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher Committee is to develop leaders and provide opportunities for young farmers and ranchers to get involved in agriculture advocacy and policy through Farm Bureau. More information is available online at wyfb.org.