Celebrating Ag education through local farm bureau events

Apr 09, 2024

By Farms.com

The American Farm Bureau Federation annually celebrates the innovative efforts of county Farm Bureaus in engaging with communities through educational and promotional activities related to agriculture.

In Kentucky, the Mercer County Farm Bureau captured the essence of local commerce with its Farm Bureau Market Night, where attendees were immersed in the local agricultural economy through an engaging market setup, driving home the value of supporting local growers.

Missouri's Cape Girardeau County Farm Bureau captivated new audiences with an agricultural-themed train ride, "Choo Choo Choose Agriculture!" Doubling the event's offering to meet demand, it provided an educational journey through agriculture, complemented by hands-on activities and information sessions.

Clark County Farm Bureau in Nevada addressed the educational needs of small and urban agriculturalists through a comprehensive conference, covering topics from beekeeping to agritourism, alongside crucial business management skills.

Ohio was not left behind, with Fayette County Farm Bureau's "Farm to Fork Goes to Town" inviting urban dwellers to explore agriculture through a unique butter board-making experience, highlighting local agriculture's contributions to everyday food items.

Also, in Ohio, Fulton County Farm Bureau's "Tomato to Table" breakfast event educated over 3,000 participants on sustainable food production at a local tomato farm, emphasizing the industry's environmental stewardship.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.