LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska’s younger generation of farmers and ranchers will gather Jan. 25-26 for workshops, tours and information sessions designed to enhance both their personal and professional skills as part of Nebraska Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Conference.  This year’s event will be held at the Divots Conference Center in Norfolk, Neb., and will provide a chance for networking, information sharing and fun.

“The whole purpose of the event is to bring information and different experiences to younger generations in agriculture. Things are always changing and one of the ways farmers adapt is by having a good understanding of not just their operation, but how their farm or ranch fits in the bigger picture of making food and fiber,” said Cathy Day, Nebraska Farm Bureau director of special programs. “That’s why we spend the first day touring local industries.”

Attendees to the conference will have the chance to tour Affiliated Foods Midwest, Producers Hybrids, Manzer Tractor Testing at Northeast Community College, Nucor Steel, Cuthills Winery, Louis Dryfus Ethanol Plant and the Four Corners Feedlot.

“We also spend part of the conference helping attendees identify how they can deal with some of the issues and challenges they face today and will continue to face in the future,” said Day.

Workshops at this year’s conference will focus on topics such as helping communicate what happens on the farm to those less familiar with today’s farming practices, getting ideas on how to transition the farm or ranch from one generation to the next, as well as receive updates on current policy issues that affect farmers’ and ranchers’ bottom lines.

“The reason the conference numbers continue to grow each year is not just because the tours and workshops are interesting, but because we also know how to have fun.  This year we’ll hold a competition called the Ultimate Farmer/Rancher Challenge and close out the conference with a comedic hypnotist,” said Day.

For more information visit www.nefb.org or for registration information contact Cathy Day at 402-421-4750.