By Timothy Collins, Chair, Kern County Young Farmers & Ranchers
The new year is off to the races, and as we work to plan out 2023 for the Young Farmers and Ranchers, we quickly focus on our third annual YF&R clay shoot fundraiser which will be held at 5 Dogs Range on Saturday, March 11th. This has quickly turned into our major fundraiser for the year and we are anticipating another successful event. Our clay shoot has given us the resources to hold monthly tours and meetings, to fund our Ag Grants for local 4H and FFA members, and to give YF&R members the opportunities to attend statewide and even nationwide YF&R events. One of our goals of YF&R is networking and building relationships in the industry that can last a lifetime. The money we raise each year funds events that make building those impactful relationships possible.
One of our goals for 2023 is to bring in more collegiate members and we are in the process of reaching out to our local ag programs at Bakersfield College and Cal State Bakersfield. YF&R should start before you graduate college, not after. YF&R is a great addition for students currently enrolled in Ag programs and gives them the opportunity to get involved with those already working in the industry and to see local agriculture firsthand. This is another area where our fundraising greatly helps us in our mission to promote ag.
Additionally, we want to underscore that many people integral to the ag industry have little to no college education and they are an important part of YF&R as well. We are certainly not a club exclusive to Cal Poly and Fresno State grads. I only have an associate’s degree from San Joaquin Delta College myself.
Being young, I will conclude on an optimistic note, and I think we have all gotten some joy out of the wet year so far. The rain brings a bit of hope that maybe some things do not get worse every year. One additional benefit of the heavy snowfall in the mountains is the great snowboarding conditions I have been able to take advantage of. While carving turns into the fresh snow is exhilarating; it is also comforting to know that as the snow melts, the water is on its way down to nourish our valley for another year.
For more information or to sign up for our Clay Shoot Fundraiser on March 11th, please reach out or follow us!
Email: KernYFR@KernCFB.com
Instagram: @KernYFR
Facebook: KernYoungFarmersAndRanchers
