Program Overview

The Georgia Young Farmers program is an educational program designed for the systematic instruction of young farmers actively engaged in the business of farming. The program is under the direction and supervision of the State Department of Education and the local agriculture departments in the high schools. The instructional program is planned jointly by the young farmer teacher and class members.

The Young Farmer program was initiated in 1951. From 1951 until 1970, the program functioned only as an instructional program coordinated by full-time young farmer teachers. In 1971, the Georgia Young Farmers Association was organized as an extension of the instructional program. The primary purpose of organizing the state association was for coordinating the activities at the state level and for providing leadership activities for the young farmers.

The association has grown from 31 chapters with 1,050 members in 1971 to 61 chapters with over 5,900 members in 2022.  In addition, there are many young farmers enrolled in organized classes that are not members of the Young Farmers Association.

The goal of the Young Farmer program is to have the 10,000 plus young farmers in the state enrolled in organized classes.