Young Leaders

The Livingston County Young Leaders program provides young people with an interest in agriculture opportunities for personal and professional development through a variety of activities . Also, the Young Leader program is a great opportunity to network and get involved with other young people who are interested in agriculture.

Some of the specific activities of the Young Leaders:

• Adopt a Classroom- The Young Leader members have adopted an inner city 4th grade class to educate the students about where their food originates. We have visited the students in their classroom in Chicago and discussed commodities grown in our county. Last spring over 80 students came to visit our county for a farm tour. They toured a dairy and hog farm.
• Adopt a Legislator- This program matched the Young Leaders members with an urban legislator. Since redistricting we have lost representation in the rural community. Sixty-three percent of the legislators represent Cook and the collar counties. That leaves only 37% to represent agriculture. We visited our Adopted Legislator in his Chicago district and learned about the problems they face. He has visited our county and toured a dairy and hog farm. We hope through this relationship we can rely on our Adopted Legislator to vote favorably with Farm Bureau on agricultural issues.
• Agri-Quiz Bowl- Members of the Young Leaders committee have competed at the AgriQuiz Bowl. It helps to develop teamwork and tests their knowledge on agricultural, family issues and the organization.

Some additional activities of the Young Leaders:

• At their monthly meetings, educational speakers share information with the group.
• The Young Leaders have many social activities, such as softball, picnics, and dinner meetings.
• The YL's provide good role models for our local FFA chapters. Each year the YL sponsor an FFA Acquaintance Program which provides educational opportunities for students. In the past they have sponsored a bus trip to John Deere Harvester Works, ADM, and to an inner city school that has a horticulture program.
• Joint meeting with Young Leaders from many different counties provide a chance to share ideas.
• The YLs sponsor activities of interest to FB members, such as Bus Trip to Caterpillar and John Deere Harvester Works.

How to become a Young Leader
Any man, woman or couple between the ages of 18 and 35 years old can become a Young Leader and you must be a member of the Livingston County Farm Bureau or dependent member.

For more information or to become a Young Leader please contact:
Livingston County Farm Bureau
Teresa Grant-Quick
901 W. Howard Street
Pontiac, IL 61764
(815)842-1103
tvlcfb@frontier.com