Young Farmer & Rancher Committee hosts Leadership Conference

The Montana Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher Committee will hold its Leadership Conference Jan. 27-29 at Fairmont Hot Springs. The conference is open to all young producers, agribusiness professionals, students and farming/ranching fans.

The conference kicks off Friday evening with a social, dinner and bingo. The breakfast speaker, Courtenay DeHoff, covers ag advocacy, followed by two interactive workshops: a community coalitions panel and an interactive tax discussion. The second round of workshops offers speakers on drought and economic impact forecasts, value-added agriculture success stories and understanding the benefits of biologically active soil.

Donna Moenning with the Center for Food Integrity rounds out the luncheon with her talk on “Imperatives to Engage Generation Z.” CFI is a not-for-profit organization whose members and project partners represent the diversity of today’s food system — from farmers, ranchers and food companies to universities, non-governmental organizations, restaurants, retailers and food processors.

The afternoon tour has stops at the Montana Prison Ranch and Headframe Spirits and includes the Underground Butte Historical Tour. Later in the day, the Collegiate Discussion Meet Final Four will take place. The winner receives an expense-paid trip to compete in the national competition March 3-6 in Jacksonville, Fla. The day wraps up with a pool party and live music.

Montana Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras has been invited to wrap up the event as breakfast speaker Sunday, Jan. 29.

Registration and more information is available online at mfbf.org/events.