🌾 Investing in Our Youth Is Investing in Our Community

One of my favorite things about this time of year is having young people stop by My Learning Farm with their buyer letters in hand, ready to tell me about their animals, their projects, and everything they have learned along the way.

I love listening to them talk agriculture.

I am grateful to sponsor kids in agriculture.

I love hearing about the early mornings, the feeding, the cleaning, the training, the setbacks, and the goals. I love watching a young person stand a little taller as they explain their project and ask someone in their community to support them.

Because there is so much more happening than raising an animal.

These kids are learning responsibility, communication, perseverance, financial literacy, animal husbandry, agriculture, and how to finish something they started. They are learning to shake a hand, look someone in the eye, answer questions, advocate for themselves, and be proud of their hard work.

Those are lessons worth investing in.

🐄 Why My Learning Farm Supports Youth in Agriculture

At My Learning Farm, education has never been limited to what happens at a desk. Learning happens in barns. It happens in show rings. It happens while caring for an animal before the sun comes up and trying again when something doesn't go according to plan. That is why I am proud to support youth agriculture in our community, including the Gold Country Fair and High School Rodeo.

I LOVE hearing all about their project animals and the obstacles they overcame.

These programs give young people opportunities to discover what they're capable of while keeping them connected to agriculture and to the community around them. Whether they eventually pursue a career in agriculture or choose an entirely different path, the confidence, work ethic, responsibility, and grit they build go with them.

I'm thrilled when students come back!

❤️ Put Your Money Where Your Community Is

The Gold Country Fair Junior Livestock Auction is Saturday, September 12, in Auburn, and I'll be there ready to invest in some hardworking young people.

Buying an animal isn't simply a transaction. It's looking at a kid who has spent months working toward this moment and saying: I see your hard work. I value what you're doing. Keep going.

Gosh, these two young women I've had the privilege of knowing since they were like 8-look at them now-their own breeding program, high school, FFA, clubs, sports-the sky's the limit!

That's the kind of investment I can get behind. Our young people are the future farmers, ranchers, veterinarians, tradespeople, teachers, business owners, community leaders, and neighbors who will someday be taking care of the places we call home. If we want strong communities tomorrow, we need to show up for our kids today. I'll be there.

I hope you'll consider joining me and investing in the youth of our community, too. 🌾❤️