7,000 of ‘the next generation’ of farmers and other ag workers gather in Lincoln

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLN) — In a challenging time for agriculture, thousands of students gathered in Lincoln on Wednesday for the Future Farmers of America state convention.

Mason Jada from Centura said students are the future of Nebraska’s ag industry.

“We’re the next generation that’s going to go and produce food for everybody in the nation,” he said. 

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Mason is one of more than 7,000 students who came to Lincoln from across the state.

This week, students can learn more about the ag business and the different ways they can get involved.  

“There are 300 different careers in agriculture,” said Victoria Broders of the Nebraska FFA Foundation. “It’s wonderful if they want to be a farmer or a rancher, but there is also all the other careers for them to learn through FFA.”

SEE ALSO: Nebraska farmers, lawmakers hope new farm bill passes in 2024

A survey released by the National Young Farmers Coalition shows the main reason young people leave the ag industry is the high cost of land. 

But Mason said he has decided to follow a career path in ag despite the challenges. 

“As of now, I don’t know exactly which way that’s going to go, whether that’s row crops … or maybe a cow-calf operation,” he said. “But definitely somewhere in the ag industry because I feel it’s such a great industry for me especially. I just love it.”

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