Stepping into Leadership: Young Farmers and Ranchers

Stepping Into Leadership: Our First Seminar as Florida YFR President & Class 11 Members

I am still incredibly humbled — and honestly a little in awe — to be writing this. Tyler and I were selected to be part of a two-year leadership program with the State of Florida!

Rewind to the spring of 2025 at a Cattlemen’s meeting. I was visiting with some friends and introducing myself to guest speakers and members of IFAS after the cattle presentations. In those conversations, I sought guidance and recommendations on how to become more involved at the county level from an agricultural advocacy standpoint. This was my first introduction to the Rural Advisory Boards for Alachua County and the Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) program.

What Is Young Farmers & Ranchers?

This program is designed to bring together 18–35-year-old farmers, ranchers, and members of the agricultural industry to learn, grow, and socialize while addressing top issues impacting their county and state. Most counties in Florida have a YF&R group, while others combine multiple counties into one.

Ultimately, the goal is to equip and educate young agricultural leaders to step into leadership roles — whether within Farm Bureau itself; county or city committees; advisory boards; or at the state and national legislative levels. Overall, the intent is to get — and KEEP — young agriculturalists active in advocacy for their county, state, and nation.

Jumping In Full Bore

It took approximately 60 seconds for Tyler and me to decide to join YF&R, and we immediately signed up with Alachua County’s group. We were quickly welcomed and determined to participate full bore.

Through YF&R, Tyler had the opportunity to tour a dairy farm and creamery and hear from a clam farmer in Cedar Key — all producers around our own age, building their own legacy or continuing to evolve a family operation. We both toured a seed packing house and distribution center, and Tyler was invited to attend a Leadership Symposium in Ocala.

At the annual Florida YF&R Conference, we heard from industry leaders and influencers such as Amanda Radke and Florida Farm Bureau President Jeb Smith. Through breakout sessions, discussion meets, and local farm tours, we grew our network while also building upon our future vision for W.D. Cattle Co.

Taking the Next Step: The Leadership Group

Over the following months, we were eager and curious to learn from our peers and leaders — and it seemed people noticed our enthusiasm. Around late July, a good friend and long-standing Farm Bureau member encouraged us to look into the Farm Bureau Leadership Group.

Representatives from each district across Florida are selected to serve as delegates for the state over a two-year period. During that time, members are exposed to Florida agriculture through guided tours, policy education, and Farm Bureau opportunities at the local, state, and national levels.

Participants actively engage in advocacy, relationship building, and networking, while also receiving training in media, communication, public speaking, and leadership development — all while building personal and professional skills throughout the seminars.

Applying for Class 11

One of my favorite moments in this journey was seeing Tyler’s excitement at the idea of applying for Class 11 of the Leadership Group. We met with our district sponsor and began the application process. Thirteen long pages later, we made it through interviews and final selection rounds.

After meeting with President Jeb Smith and other Farm Bureau leaders, we found out we had been selected!

It felt surreal — especially knowing that some YF&R members had applied for over six years before being chosen. To be selected within our first year of involvement felt incredibly humbling and deeply meaningful.

Our First Seminar Together

It has been a wonderful experience thus far. And busy. Extremely busy.

Around Thanksgiving, Tyler and I attended our first conference, where we met our classmates and spent three full days diving into leadership training, Farm Bureau history, and current events.

A Quick Look Back: Farm Bureau & Young Farmers & Ranchers

One of the most valuable parts of our first seminar was stepping back to understand where Farm Bureau comes from and how it works.

Farm Bureau was built as a member-led organization, designed to give farmers and ranchers a unified voice — not just locally, but all the way to the national level. It is not top-down. It begins at the county level, where members bring forward issues that matter to them. Those ideas move through districts, into state policy development, and when appropriate, on to national consideration. Every level matters, and every voice has a path forward.

Learning How Leadership Actually Works

We also focused heavily on the framework of Farm Bureau — the tiers, internal processes, and how real change happens. We learned how issues are introduced, vetted, debated, and carried forward. It provided structure to something that can feel overwhelming from the outside.

Leadership Styles: Orange Meets Gold

We also had the chance to learn about leadership and personality styles — and let me tell you, it explained a lot about Tyler and me.

We learned that:

• Tyler is a Gold personality — structured, organized, values systems, rules, and consistency. He’s a competitor who thrives on clarity and accountability.
• I am an Orange personality — flexible, energetic, persuasive, and a strong compromiser. I thrive in dynamic situations and collaborative problem-solving.

Instead of clashing, we learned how these styles complement each other. His structure balances my adaptability. My creativity softens his rigidity. Together, we are learning how to lead effectively — not by being the same, but by respecting how each other thinks and operates.

Our Mission: All-In

Our class also developed our mission and vision statements and landed on a motto: “All-In.” We are committed to building Florida YF&R into a nationally recognized program for engagement while positively impacting agrarian communities across Florida and beyond.

An Election

During this first session, the class was tasked with selecting a President to represent the class and the State of Florida as a member of the Farm Bureau Board over a two-year period.

And well… they chose me.

I was thrilled, nervous, and humbled all at once — and I still am. Not only do Tyler and I complete this journey together as a couple, but we are now stepping into deeper influence and learning opportunities through my election to the YF&R Presidency.

This role also means I serve as a voting member for Florida Farm Bureau and National Farm Bureau, as well as Florida’s national representative for the Young Farmers & Ranchers program.

In December, I attended my first Florida Farm Bureau State Board Meeting, sitting at the table with leaders from across the state. I’ll continue attending throughout the next year as president and through 2027 as immediate past president. It’s exciting, nerve-wracking, and incredibly motivating all at once.

As president, you truly have to know a little about a lot. Florida agriculture is wildly diverse — cattle, citrus, sugarcane, row crops, vegetables, forestry, aquaculture, and more. This role gives me the opportunity — and responsibility — to become educated across industries while representing the voices of YFR leaders statewide.

Looking Ahead

Tyler and I have already been incredibly blessed to meet influential agricultural leaders through YFR, and that circle continues to grow.

Our next stops include travel to California (both this week and next), followed immediately by Tallahassee to meet with Florida and national representatives and congressmen on current agricultural issues and events. After that, we head to Oregon for additional seminars and national networking opportunities.

We plan to share this incredible two-year journey with anyone who wants to listen. If these topics excite you like they excite us, give us a follow — and support your local young farmers and ranchers.

One Traveling Job to Another

Who would have thought I’d leave one traveling job only to land right back into another? The difference now is that it’s socially acceptable — and even encouraged — to talk about soil health, grass, and cows for entire days without being labeled a “unique character.”

Cheers to this new adventure and to serving alongside so many passionate young farmers and ranchers across Florida.