Youth & Young Farmers

We believe in developing young leaders for the future. GROWMARK is a long-time supporter of youth and young farmer programs in our trade area including:

• FFA
• 4-H
• Farm Bureau Young Farmers/Leaders
• Junior Farmers Association (Ontario, Canada)
• University scholarships

GROWMARK and Midwest FS member cooperatives are affiliated with Farm Bureau and co-sponsor a number of programs with them.

Farm Bureau Young Farmer Programs
GROWMARK and Farm Bureau seek to develop young leaders for today and for the future. One of the ways GROWMARK helps develop young leaders is by supporting Farm Bureau young farmer programs.

Farm Bureau Leadership Development Programs

• Discussion Meet
• Achievement Award Program
• Young Farmer State Conference
• Excellence in Agriculture Award Program
• Other programs

See program details.

What is the Young Farmer/Young Leader category?
Producers, 35 years of age or younger, are considered by Farm Bureau to be Young Farmers (in Iowa and Wisconsin) and Young Leaders (in Illinois).

The Farm Bureau offers programs for young producers on county and state levels. Agribusiness individuals outside production agriculture join in many of the activities. Contact your county Farm Bureau office for information on how to become a member.

GROWMARK Support
GROWMARK supports Farm Bureau programs in a number of ways on the state level in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Many FS member cooperatives also provide assistance on the local level.

GROWMARK provides:

• $50 FS gift certificates to participants qualifying for the state Farm Bureau Discussion Meet, Achievement Award, and Excellence in Agriculture competitions.
• Expert sources of information for young farmer meetings and conferences.
• An expense-paid trip to our annual meeting for Farm Bureau State Committee Chairmen, Discussion Meet winners, Achievement Award winners, Excellence in Agriculture, and Joslin Award winners.
• Program judging, FS door prizes, and other areas of support.