By Stephanie Bunker

Moapa Valley Progress

Group of the Young Farmers and Ranchers sit down to eat at the BBQ held at the Logandale Park on Thursday night. Photo by Stephanie Bunker.

Members of the local Young Farmer and Rancher organization met together on Thursday night, May 24 at the Logandale Park for a cookout.

Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) is a group organized under the Farm Bureau. It includes members of the Farm Bureau that are ages 18-35.

Like the Farm Bureau, the YF&R has three different levels: county, state, and national. The objective of YF&R is to provide leadership in building a more effective Farm Bureau, to preserve individual freedoms, and expand opportunities in agriculture.

“I think it’s a wonderful program, it keeps farming interesting to our generation,” said Hannah Hardy who has been a member of the YF&R for several years. “It reminds people in this modern age that we still need agriculture.”

One purpose for Thursday’s cookout in the park was as a thank you from the Clark County Farm Bureau for the members of YF&R volunteering at the booth at the Clark County Fair. The Nevada and Clark County Farm Bureau booth at the fair had various activities in the Small Animal Barn. On display was a plastic cow with utters to simulate an actual milking cow. The YF&R members volunteered their time helping children have a hands on experience milking a cow. Other games and activities were at the booth that taught about food groups and where food comes from.

The local YF&R organization is trying to grow its program.

“My main goal is to help get the organization started and on its feet,” said Mica Leatham, newly appointed YF&R President.

Leatham said he had recruited several members and signed them up for the organization right at the BBQ. One of the new recruits was Dan Bevan,

“I was raised in a place where agriculture programs weren’t offered,” said Bevan.

But both sets of Bevan’s grandparents were farmers and ranchers and Bevan said that he always felt a desire to learn about agriculture. When Leatham mentioned the YF&R organization and what it was about, Bevan said he wanted to become involved.

“I am excited to learn and give opportunities to other kids,” Bevan said.

Another new recruit was the Reid family of Logandale: Noah and Emily Reid.

“This is something I am interested in because I like to associate with these good people,” said Noah Reid. “And its what I grew up doing.”

Reid grew up on a farm in Beryl, Utah raising goats.

“I enjoyed that lifestyle and when Mica asked me if I wanted to be a part of it, I thought it would be something I would be interested in,” he said.

The Clark County YF&R leadership has recently changed. Blake Stratton was the President over the past several years. But Leatham was recently appointed as President and Dan Bevan was put in as Vice President. Stephanie Bunker is Secretary.

Leatham said that he has plans to bring elementary schools from Las Vegas to take a tour of the Moapa Valley High School Ag Farm.

“I want to have Maggie (the plastic milking cow) there and have them walk through the garden and see the chickens,” Leatham said, “I want the kids to associate the garden with the food they eat.”