Three Oklahoma Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers members will gather in Phoenix Jan. 6-11 to compete nationally during the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 98th Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show.
Isaac Fisher, Comanche County, will compete for the YF&R Achievement Award. Fisher concentrates on raising stocker cattle and growing wheat and cotton near the southwest Oklahoma town of Chattanooga. He also runs a custom haying business swathing and baling hay for fellow farmers and ranchers in the area.
Rachel Pickens, Payne County, will represent OKFB YF&R in the competition for the YF&R Excellence in Agriculture Award. Known as the “Oklahoma Land Lady,” Rachel is a successful realtor in Payne County. In 2010, she opened an agritourism venue, which also serves as an educational field trip destination for approximately 2,000 people per year. Pickens also helps with the Kicking Childhood Hunger Committee, which is designed to raise money to help with food insecurity in Payne County.
Jennifer Howard, Jackson County, will discuss a variety of agricultural issues during the AFBF YF&R Discussion Meet. Howard and her husband, Brent, are active in OKFB YF&R and are serving their second year of their three-year term as state vice chairs. Howard works for Dow AgroSciences as an ActiveSense pilot specialist in the Urban Pest Management business.
The American Farm Bureau Federation is the country’s largest general farm organization and prides itself in being the unified national voice of agriculture. Each January, members gather for the annual convention. This year, the 98th Annual Convention of the American Farm Bureau Federation, held Jan. 6-11, will be in Phoenix, Arizona. The convention is a time to gather with members from all across the country as well as have the opportunity to learn and promote the future of agriculture. The convention offers outstanding speakers and general sessions, the chance to recognize leaders in agriculture, and programs for young farms and ranchers. With hundreds of exhibitors, the IDEAg Trade Show is also an exciting part of the annual convention. IDEAg’s trade show gives members the opportunity to learn about the newest innovations, invest in their businesses, have the infrastructure to be successful, and engage others in agriculture. For more information about the AFBF Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show, please visit annualconvention.fb.org.
