SLO Young Farmers and Ranchers
About:
The SLO Young Farmers and Ranchers are a nonprofit organization associated with the SLO County Farm Bureau. The Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee is a program for agriculturalists between the ages of 21 and 35 involved in production, farming, ranching, banking, business, and many other areas of the industry. YF&R provides opportunities to develop leadership skills through involvement in Farm Bureau at the county, state, and national levels. YF&R members are a vital part of the organization, and it has been a great way for us to also network with local industry leaders and professionals. We typically have about 30 members at our meetings. Our meetings are typically on the second Tuesday of every month and start between 5:30pm-6:00pm and usually last an hour or two. We often have our meetings at local businesses, wineries, breweries, and we often tour local farms/ranches, etc. Our meeting consists of hearing from guest speakers or business owners as a way for us to all learn more about the local community and get new experiences. You can check out our Instagram @slo_yfr to see more of what we do in the community!
If you or your company is interested in hosting our SLO Young Farmers and Ranchers Chapter please reach out to Jesslyn by calling 805-543-3654 or by emailing jblank@slofarmbureau.org
2026 Meeting Dates:
January 13th - SLO YF&R Informational Meeting and Social at the SLO Farm Bureau Office. Social starts at 5:30pm followed by a meeting at 6:00pm.
February 10th - SLO Food Bank Tour. Join us for a tour of the SLO Food Bank.
This meeting will offer a unique opportunity to see firsthand how the Food Bank supports our local community and works closely with farmers and ranchers throughout San Luis Obispo County. Members will receive a facility tour , learn about the Food Bank’s mission and programs, and gain insight into how local agriculture plays a vital role in addressing food insecurity. We will also spend time volunteering together and helping fill food bags, giving us a hands-on way to give back to our community.
March 10th - Traceland : Rainwater Harvesting
Join us for a tour of Traceland's agro-ecosystems. We will walk through the avocado orchard to visit the white sapote, asparagus and coffee agroforestry. Then we will take in a view of the rainwater harvesting system, set into the silvo-pasture, which offsets some of the water use from the farm. We will finish the tour in the flower fields of Pico Blooms. Bring rain gear and rubber boots, pending on weather, but we will be outside on the farm. Looking forward to seeing you there.
April 14th - Boni-Pak Strawberry Center Tour
Join Bonipak and Betteravia Farms for a strawberry field tour. Betteravia Farms, part of the Bonipak family of companies, has been growing strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries across the Central Coast for nearly a decade. Their berry program spans more than 800 net acres, led primarily by strawberries alongside a strong blackberry program.
Grown in close partnership with Driscoll’s, this season’s crop is projected to total approximately 2.6 million strawberry crates and just under 1 million crates of cane berries. As a leading berry and vegetable grower on the Central Coast, Bonipak and Betteravia Farms brings decades of farming experience that supports a diversified and high-quality growing program.
May 12th - JUSTIN Vineyards Tour
June 9th - Summer Social at Barrel House Brewing Co in Paso Robles
July 16th - Volunteer at the CA Mid-State Fair Cattleman and Farmers Day BBQ
August 11th - AVAILABLE
September 8th - Talley Farms Tour - Bell Pepper Harvest
October 13th - Mesa Vineyard Management - Grape Harvest
November 10th - AVAILABLE
December - No Meeting - Happy Holidays!