Three students from St. Clair County attended the Alabama Farmers Federation’s Youth Leadership Conference last weekend in Columbiana.  

Tyler Bruce, Billy Rawson, and Mason Tarrant represented local high schools at the annual conference, aimed at sophomores and juniors who are selected to attend by their county Federations and Young Farmers Committees based on academic and extracurricular activities.  

The three-day program included team-building and problem-solving exercises and workshops on common misconceptions about agriculture and career opportunities in the field.  A special seminar, “Cowboy Values:  The Code of the West,” dealt with values, ethics, and leadership.

“Farmers would like for these young folks to pursue ag as their career, but all industries need young people to come on and replace those who retire,” said Jeff Maze, chairman of the State Young Farmers Committee.  “The workshops that we do here are competitive, but they really sharpen these kids’ communications and people skills.  I think it is sometimes perceived that it’s ‘just for ag,’ but it’s really not.  Many of our delegates have never been on a farm.”

“We try to teach these kids that regardless of what career field they choose—agriculture, law, or medicine—there are institutions out there who rely on a steady flow of emerging young leaders to take leadership positions in their industries,” said Brandon Moore, Young Farmers director.

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