YF&R Committee

The Young Farmers and Ranchers committee is a group of young producers from across the state, appointed by the Nebraska Farm Bureau Board of Directors, to provide real feedback and issues that young producers are facing on their operations. Committee members are divided into districts which allows them to better serve the young farmers and ranchers in their respective regions. The committee also guides the direction and planning of the Young Farmers and Ranchers conference each year.

The Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee shall plan and execute a program which shall:

1. Meet the needs of young people and assist the organization in attaining its leadership and program goals and objectives.
2. Be within the scope of Farm Bureau policy.
3. Be approved by the Board of Directors.

1. Be an active, loyal Farm Bureau member and believe in Farm Bureau as a means of solving public problems and in the market system as a means of meeting human needs.
2. Be conscientious, dependable and cooperative.
3. Understand the needs of and opportunities for young producers and leaders.
4. Have leadership ability.
5. Be enthusiastic.
6. Be willing to give time and effort.

Interested in serving on the YF&R Committee?

Applications are due November 7

Joe and Jaden Melnick

Chairs, South Central Region

Joe and Jaden live on an acreage outside the village of Ayr. On their acreage, they raise dairy and meat goats. They have a 2-year-old son named Jedidiah and are expecting a second baby in April. Joe graduated from the University of Lincoln Nebraska with a Fisheries degree and is currently the manager for Remington Seeds in Hastings. Jaden graduated from South Dakota State University with an Animal Science degree and works for DNA Genetics doing Nucleus Support and Sales/Selection in the South Central Region. They both enjoy being outside and playing with their son.

Matthew Erickson

Southeast Region

Matthew Erickson of Sterling is a Johnson County Farm Bureau member. Matthew grew up on a diversified ag operation in southeast Nebraska. After earning a degree from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln in Mechanized Systems Management with minors in Agronomy and Animal Science, he returned back home to farm with his family. They currently raise corn, soybeans, wheat, and sorghum and have a farrow to finish hog operation while continuing to grow their custom farming business.

Josh and Jill England

Central Region

Josh and Jill England of Doniphan are Hall County Farm Bureau Members. Josh is a graduate from Central Community College in Hastings with a degree in Criminal Justice. He works on the family farm with his dad and uncle where they grow corn and soybeans. Jill is a graduate from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in Ag Education. She works for CHI Health as a Recruiter.

Daniel Hasart

North Central Region

Daniel Hasart is a 4th generation farmer/cattle rancher. He was born and raised in Eastern Colorado. After graduating high school, the family farm and ranch expanded to Wood Lake, Nebraska where he manages the day to day operations of the ranch.

Courtney Nelson

Northeast Region

Courtney is a connector. She graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in December 2021 with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanized Systems Management. Courtney now works at Northeast Community College as the Precision Agriculture Trainer where she visits high schools to teach precision agriculture through hands-on activities. Her family farms near Monroe where they raise corn and soybeans.

David and Christy Schuler

Northwest Region

David and Christy are Morrill County Farm Bureau members from Bridgeport. David is the forth-generation rancher at Schuler-Olsen Ranches, Inc. and a third-generation Red Angus seedstock producer. Christy is a vocational ag teacher and FFA advisor for Bridgeport FFA. They both graduated from the Univeristy of Nebraska Lincoln.

Grant Jones

Southwest Region

Grant is a six-generation farmer and rancher in southwest Nebraska.  Along with his family, they raise registered Angus and SimAngus cattle and have a yearly production sale in March.  Grant graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2014 with a Bachelor’s in Animal Science with minors in Agricultural Economics and the Beef Industry Scholars Program. He recently started Chundy Aquaculture where he raises shrimp.  Grant enjoys officiating high school basketball in his spare time.

Ryan and Amy Musgrave

At-Large

Ryan and Amy have spent their whole lives in agriculture. Ryan grew up raising cattle, sheep, and goats, and only briefly stepped away to serve our country in the Navy. Amy grew up the daughter of a large animal veterinarian while raising cattle and did some higher education to learn more about the communications and economics of agriculture. Since they have been married, they have started their own diversified livestock herd and do what they can to give back to their local community.

Rebecca Wulf

Student

Rebecca Wulf is a sophomore at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln studying agriculture economics with minors in horticulture, hospitality, and the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program. Rebecca intends to open a floral shop and greenhouse in a rural community in Nebraska following graduation. She is from Hooper, Nebraska where her family farms row crops and has a cow-calf operation. 

Abygail Streff

Student

Abygail Streff is a sophomore at the University of Nebraska Lincoln. She is majoring in Agricultural Economics and focusing on Public Policy. Upon her graduation, she hopes to help shape legislation and policy surrounding agriculture. She will remain a strong advocate for agriculture. She was raised in Pierce Nebraska and grew up helping her grandparents with their beef operation as well as crop production.

Lance and Krystal Atwater

Youth At-Large

Lance and Krystal Atwater of Blue Hill are Adams/Webster County Farm Bureau members. They grow corn, soybeans, Non-GMO white corn, and popcorn. Krystal is a national accounts manager for Land O’Lakes Purina. Lance is the past President of Adams/Webster County Farm Bureau and currently serves as Second Vice President and Youth At Large representative on the Nebraska Farm Bureau Board of Directors.