Young Farmer and Rancher Update
Susan Wilkins, YF&R Chair
Somehow this fall, I lost an
entire month. I think it had
something to do with twenty four
days I spent “gallivanting” around
Europe. I left West Virginia
when it was green, sunny, and
75 degrees. The cattle were still
happily grazing and the corn was
standing tall in the fields. I returned and the leaves
were gone, the grass had stopped growing, the corn
was all chopped, and a couple days later, it snowed.
To say it was a shock to
my system would be an
understatement.
Before I even had a
chance to completely
catch up on all my
sleep, it was time for
the Annual Meeting in
Flatwoods. The Young
Farmers Committee
had a very successful
weekend and we are
happy to welcome
some new faces to
our group. We are
extremely excited for
our Excellence in Ag
contestants, Jeremy and
Danielle Grant, who will compete at the national level
during the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual
Convention in San Diego.
Officers were elected and I am both proud and
humbled to have been re-elected for a second year as
Chair of the Young Farmers Committee. Serving with
me will be Suzanne Wilson as vice chair and Nicole
Sattler as secretary. I think it is incredibly exciting that
three females head up the leadership of this committee
and I look forward to working towards our goals in the
coming year.
I would like to personally thank everyone who
attended my Information Fair session on my Germany
10 West Virginia Farm Bureau News
trip and the wonderful compliments I received. Thank
you!! Several of you asked if I was available to attend
county Farm Bureau meetings to give this presentation
and I am more than happy to do so. Please reach out
by phone or email if I can help!
It is hard to believe that Christmas is here once
again. My experiences in Germany taught me so
much and while I like to think of myself as a person
who doesn’t take my blessings for granted, my list of
things to be grateful for this particular holiday season
is a little longer than
usual. I have been
blessed with so many
gifts – in particular the
gift of freedom, fought
for and given to us by
our ancestors. I am
truly humbled to live
in this great country
where I have never
known any way of
life other than a life of
freedom. And while
I may not agree with
every decision made by
our government, we are
blessed with the gift of
democracy.
And surpassing all gifts, I am blessed with the gift
of a life lived in Christ. “For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in
him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John
3:16) As we get caught up in the inevitable rush of the
season, take a moment to thank God for the gifts that
truly matter!
Merry Christmas!
Susan
Ph. 304-651-8569
[email protected]