Busy Year for Oregon YF&R Encouraging For Future of Agriculture

2019 was a busy year for the Oregon Young Farmers and Ranchers program, but Chair Jenny Freeborn wouldn’t have it any other way.  She said the organization was busy statewide and nationally preparing the next generation of farmers for the Beaver state and beyond.  And while some have expressed concern that there is a lack of an interest from young people to get in farming and production, Freeborn says she doesn’t see it.

“I feel like there are a lot passionate young people out there, in fact I’d almost say a growing number of passionate young people out there about agriculture, and people who are really interested in where their food is coming from, and what they can do to help agriculture be more productive be more sustainable to make we can continue to feed a growing world population.”

So, what is it that keeps young people from following their parent’s footsteps and working the family farm?

“I would say the regulatory burden right now in Oregon, as well as nationally, is one of the biggest issues, um, with all farmers really, but with young farmers in particular just trying to learn the ropes and trying to get started.  You know, some of those regulations cost a lot of money and sometimes that’s part of the financial burden that is placed on young farmers.”

Freeborn says 2019 is far from being done for Oregon YF&R.  The organization’s Leadership Conference is coming up November 15^th through the 17^th in Portland.

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