The Volunteers were well represented at Tennessee Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Summer Conference.

Several students were in attendance to compete in the Collegiate Discussion Meet, receive scholarships, and participate in conference festivities. Ella McLerran, a junior animal science major of Clay County, was named Collegiate Discussion Meet State Winner. She spoke excitedly about nationals coming up in March in Omaha, Nebraska.

“To win such a competitive competition is truly a once in a lifetime experience.” McLerran continued, “Without such opportunities, I wouldn’t be able to advance my current knowledge and application of agricultural issues.”

Tennessee Farm Bureau had some of Herbert’s best interning with them over the summer. Carragan Fields, Grace Powell, and Allison Price (’23) worked in policy, communications, and Ag in the Classroom, respectively. All had only great things to say about their experiences.

Powell spoke of her time filming farmers across the state. “This summer allowed me to truly see how diverse our state is in the agricultural industry. It was a true honor to be given the task to share our farmers’ stories so that our state is being accurately represented.”

Fields expressed her appreciation for the diverse experiences she had over the summer and the program as a whole. “I look forward to continuing my experiences with Young Farmers and Ranchers, where I hope to learn more about representing and advocating for agriculture in the future.”

Students in the Herbert College of Agriculture continue to make an impact in their internships at organizations across Tennessee and beyond.