Programs
Young Farmers & Ranchers
YF&R stands for Young Farmers and Ranchers. The Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Program is designed to allow members of Farm Bureau, between the ages of 18 and 35, the opportunity to develop leadership skills, compete in contests to win valuable prizes, be involved in their local communities, and develop long lasting friendships with people from across the state and country.
YF&R members plan and participate in a wide range of activities at all levels of Farm Bureau - county, state, and national. All of these activities are designed to educate, develop leadership skills, and of course, be fun!
Please find some our activities described below:
Leadership Development Conferences
Summer/Winter Conferences: These three-day conferences are planned by the state YF&R committee. The summer conference is typically held in late July, and the winter conference is held on a weekend in late January or early February. Seminars at the conferences range from leadership development to marketing education, financial management, political education, dealing with stress, coping with family problems, craft making, and wide range of other seminars aimed at all members of the family. But, these wouldn't be YF&R events without a lot of fun and fellowship thrown in. The conferences often include cookouts, ag tours, games and entertainment as well as family time. The conferences are designed with the family in mind as many of our YF&R have children of all ages. When not joining the group, child care is provided at both conferences. Also, on any Sunday where a Farm Bureau activity is going on, the YF&R always take time to worship God with an organized Vespers Service.
State Convention: The Young Farmers and Ranchers always have an active role in planning state convention activities specifically designed for the YF&R. Along with those specific activities, the YF&R participate in all of the other aspects of the convention, including seminars and the business session which includes the policy development process.
Legislative Leadership Day: This conference is designed to educate, inform, and give participants some personal contact with members of our state legislature. The Legislative Leadership Day is held on a week day each April. We meet during the week so that we can have lunch at the State Capitol with our senators and representatives. A legislative update from our Public Policy Division is always included, and well as some leadership training.
National Leadership Conference: The National Leadership Conference focuses on leadership and personal development opportunities for young farmers and ranchers. This highly interactive conference brings together YF&R from across the country and offers several fun and informative activities, including motivational speakers, mini-sessions, awards and recognition, networking, entertainment, Collegiate Discussion Meet competitive events and tours of local agricultural operations and/or attractions.
OSU International Student Tour: Each year during Oklahoma State University's fall break, the YF&R host a farm tour for OSU international students, who are studying for advanced degrees in agriculture. The intent of the farm tour is to familiarize the students with farms and agribusinesses in Oklahoma. In short, formal education meets rural applications in agriculture. This program will heighten awareness of OFB and agriculture throughout the state and the globe. This is an excellent opportunity to interact one on one with people in production agriculture from all around the world.
Contests
Achievement Award: This contest recognizes OFB's top young farm and ranch family or individual each year at our state convention in November. The award is judged on involvement in the community and Farm Bureau, as well as the quality of the contestant(s) farming operation and leadership activities. The winner receives a variety of prizes, including an expense-paid trip to the American Farm Bureau convention in January to compete in the national contest.
Excellence in Agriculture Award: This contest is designed as an opportunity for Young Farmers & Ranchers who do not derive the majority of their income from an owned agricultural operation, while actively contributing and growing through their involvement in Farm Bureau and agriculture, to earn recognition. Participants will be judged on their involvement in agriculture, leadership ability, involvement and participation in Farm Bureau and other organizations (i.e., civic, service and community). The winner of the state contest receives an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) courtesy of Farm Credit and an expense-paid trip to the American Farm Bureau convention in January to compete in the national contest.
Discussion Meet: The YF&R Discussion Meet is a panel-type discussion in which YF&R are judged on their ability to express ideas and opinions on the hottest issues in agriculture. Participants attempt to influence each other by posing and answering questions with the goal of reaching a solution to a stated problem facing agriculture. The winner of the contest, which is held at state convention in November, wins some great prizes and an expense-paid trip to the American Farm Bureau convention to compete in the national contest.
Charles Roff Award: This award recognizes Oklahoma's top county YF&R committee and encourages Young Farmers and Ranchers to help build stronger county YF&R committees and to strengthen the organization while encouraging more participation in state activities. Each county YF&R committee should participate by describing activities sponsored throughout the year. The official application must be accompanied by no more than three pages (front and back) of pictures and clippings for verification. The Charles L. Roff award winner will receive a traveling trophy at the state convention (shall be retired in any county winning the award three consecutive years).
Outstanding County Event: This award recognizes a county YF&R committee on a single event it hosted or sponsored during the year. The award is designed to share ideas among counties and encourages county committees to be active and strengthen the organization. The Outstanding County Event recipient wins a traveling trophy.
New YF&R Action Award: This contest is designed to award new YF&R members for their motivation and action. The New YF&R Action Award is open to any Farm Bureau member between the ages of 18 and 35 years who is in good standing with his or her county Farm Bureau. Points will be awarded to young farmers and ranchers for their involvement in YF&R activities throughout the year. The winner will be announced at the state convention in November. The award winner will choose between an expense-paid trip to the National YF&R Leadership Conference in February or the Congressional Action Tour in April.
Charities & Fundraisers
Harvest for All: Farm Bureau's Young Farmers & Ranchers are partnering with America's Second Harvest to help feed the millions of Americans who face hunger. It's America's first harvesters helping America's Second Harvest in what we call a "Harvest for All." Throughout the year, farmers in Oklahoma and throughout the nation will be donating food, funds and people power to create a hunger-free America. YF&R from across the state have gathered donations, held food drives and volunteered countless hours at the Regional Food Bank in Oklahoma City to help those in need.
YF&R Golf Classic: Each year, the state YF&R Committee sponsors a golf tournament to benefit the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Legal Foundation (OFBLF), which supports the rights of farmers and ranchers. The tournament is set up as a four-man scramble on a different golf course each year. Lunch is provided the day of the tournament. Great prizes are awarded to the top three teams, as well as those individuals with the longest drive and closest to the hole. Sponsorships are welcome! For information contact your county Farm Bureau, or Marcia Irvin at (405) 523-2405, or mirvin@okfb.org.
Youth Activities
Livestock Judging Contests: The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee hosts a livestock judging contest at both the Oklahoma State Fair in Oklahoma City, and the Tulsa State Fair in Tulsa in the fall. These contests are open to FFA and 4-H students across the state. Results from the 2009 YF&R Livestock Judging Contest are:
- Senior FFA Individual
- Senior FFA Team
- Junior FFA Individual
- Junior FFA Team
- Senior 4-H Individual
- Senior 4-H Team
- Junior 4-H Individual
- Junior 4-H Team
Speech Contest: The state YF&R hosts a Public Speaking Contests each spring. The speech contest is open to Oklahoma youth between the ages of 9 and 18, broken down into three age groups: Junior Division, ages 9-12; Intermediate Division, ages 13-15; and Senior Division, ages 16-18. Contestants in the Junior Division must present a three- to five-minute prepared speech in one of three topics: Agricultural Production, Environment & Natural Resources, or Agriculture Policy. Contestants in the Intermediate and Senior Divisions must present a five- to seven-minute prepared speech on one of those topics. Scholarships will be given to the top three winners in each category in the senior division. Savings bonds will be awarded to those top three winners in each category in the Intermediate and Junior Divisions.
OSU Field Days: Oklahoma Farm Bureau's Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee sponsors OSU Field Days each year. OSU Field Days is a three-day livestock judging event held annually in Stillwater during the month of July. More than 1,000 youth from across the state come each year to test their sheep, cattle and swine judging skills. The State YF&R Committee awards plaques to the winners of the judging contest.
Scholarships
The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Committee presents scholarships each spring to high school seniors. The applications for these scholarships can be picked up at county Farm Bureau offices. Applicants must be a voting member of Farm Bureau, and should be enrolling in a full-time agriculture major at one of Oklahoma's colleges. For more information on all scholarships available through Farm Bureau, click here.
If you have questions regarding any of the Young Farmers and Ranchers activities, please contact FBW/YF&R Coordinator Marcia Irvin at 405-523-2405 or by e-mail at mirvin@okfb.org.