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More than 200 young Farm Bureau members from across the state attended the 2003 Young Farmer Wild West Show and Leadership Conference Feb. 28 to March 1 at the Marriott Northwest Hotel in Dublin.

The conference offered six different workshops; young farmers were able to attend four of the six. The Safety First workshop dealt with the safety of their homes and farms. The young farmers learned about fire extinguisher safety and use. Making investments, marketing and getting a business started were the topics of the Successful Farming with your Money workshop. Constance Jackson, OFBF vice president of agricultural ecology, and Darren Newcomer of Farm Services Agency lead the Farm Bill and You workshop. They discussed how the new farm bill applies to Ohio farmers.

Getting Good Insurance Deals offered the young farmers tips on how to best protect them and their families. A panel of agricultural entrepreneurs discussed how they diversified their operations in Niche Farming. Jennifer Harbage, a Clark County Farm Bureau member, discussed Quick Meals in the Field with the group. She asked the young farmers to share ideas with one another and asked volunteers to help during the cooking demonstration.

Keynote speaker Robert Taylor of Purdue University provided the young farmers with tips for handling conflicts on multi-generational farms.

"This conference provides an opportunity for the young farmers to develop personal and professional relationships. The group really worked hard and had a great ‘can-do’ attitude," said Darrell Rubel, OFBF director of young leaders. "This is a group that knows everything is not easy, but they are proud of farming and their industry. They are confident in the future of agriculture. This is a group the other Farm Bureau members can be proud of."