There are some tough issues facing farmers these days, and for younger farmers and ranchers getting a leg up on tackling those challenges can mean the difference between success and failure. Wyoming Farm Bureau is providing support through its Young Farmer & Rancher Conference, to be held Jan. 19-21 in Thermopolis, Wyo.

The conference is open to young agricultural producers between the ages of 18 and 35, and no membership in the Farm Bureau is necessary. The event is also open to all Farm Bureau members.

Information-filled
The program’s agenda includes a wide range of topics that will help young farmers. The event kicks off with a presentation called “Modern Ag in a Facebook Culture,” a hot topic as consumers seek to be more connected to the producers of food they eat. Gary Sides, beef and feedlot nutritionist with Zoetis, will make this keynote presentation.

The event also includes a look at outward success with Kyle and Stacy Berger, ranches from Albany County, Wyo. They discuss what young farmers and ranchers can do to work toward their agricultural goals. The Bergers have learned a lot from these kinds of conferences and will share that knowledge with attendees.

Another hot topic for young producers is managing conflict. Lindsay Calvert, an American Farm Bureau Federation trainer, will be on hand to discuss tactics on this hot topic. She noted that the key is not to avoid conflict, but to learn to identify and use conflict to achieve successful outcomes.

Another hot topic, even for young producers, is estate planning. Larry Heiser, a certified public accountant, will cover this issue in detail.

This conference covers a wide range of issues for producers, including how to market your crop. A panel including Pat Caines, Superior Livestock; Jeff Brown, Riverton Livestock Auction; and Karoline Rose, KRose Marketing & Consulting, will tackle “Insights and Innovations: Different Ways to Market Your Livestock.”

There’s even a spiritual look at key issues, a session called “What Does the Bible Have to Say About Succession Planning?”

And to put ideas into practice, there is a later session called “Outward Succession: Taking Steps to Advance Your Own Ag Operation.” In a workshop setting, attendees will focus on what the younger generation can do on their own right now to advance their agricultural pursuits. And following this discussion, peer groups will be formed to brainstorm ideas to pursue now, and set goals on how to take information from the conference and move forward with an implementation strategy.

Registration
The agenda and registration form are available at wyfb.org or by calling 307-532-2002. The registration fee is $95 per adult, and the deadline is Wednesday. Late registrations may be accepted based on availability after Wednesday at $135 per adult.

For room reservations, call the Days Inn in Thermopolis at 307-864-3131 and mention Wyoming Farm Bureau to receive the room rate of $85 plus tax per night. The reservation deadline is Wednesday.

Source: Wyoming Farm Bureau