Young Farmers Gain Resources at Tri State Conference

By Scout Nelson

According to the South Dakota Farmers Union, the Farmers Union Tri State Young Producers Conference plays an important role in supporting the next generation of farmers and ranchers by offering education resources and strong peer connections.

The conference brings together young producers from South Dakota, North Dakota, and Oklahoma. Its main goal is to provide access to experts' practical tools and real-world knowledge that help family farms succeed. Karla Hofhenke Executive Director of South Dakota Farmers Union explains the purpose of the event.
 
“Young producers are the future of our industry and our organization,” Hofhenke said. “Education is a focus of Farmers Union because for family farmers and ranchers to succeed, they need access to personal and professional development.”

Sessions at the conference cover topics such as ag finances, risk management, advocacy, communication, cooperative history, and agriculture policy. A presentation on Livestock Risk Protection helped many cattle producers better understand how the program works and how it fits into their operations.

“It’s interesting to see what works for other producers and learn about what they are struggling with. And by visiting, sometimes we are able to help each other out,” explained Karsky, who attended the conference with her husband, AJ.

Time away from their ranch together to focus on learning is also a benefit. “It’s a perfect time of year. There is a lull in the ranching world because we are not calving yet and harvest is done,” Karsky said. “So, it is nice to go together so that we can discuss what we learned, since everyone remembers different bits and pieces.”

“We work to gain information and try new things to better our operation so that when our kids are old enough to take over, they don’t have to struggle as much as we do,” Petersen said. “Our family is the reason we work so hard.”

By combining education expert guidance and peer support, the Tri State Young Producers Conference continues to play an important role in preparing the next generation of agriculture leaders.

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