FSA Youth Loan Program Builds Boy from Teen to Young Adult Cattle Operator

At age 26, Ray Robroker is a veteran in his industry. At age 16 — with some encouragement from his father — Robroker turned to the Farm Service Agency’s Youth Loan Program to help him obtain his first herd of cattle. He ran stocker cattle using his father’s land and equipment. Eventually, that small herd turned into 200 stockers roaming on nearly 300 acres of land. Robroker moved from Youth Loans to FSA’s Beginning Farmer and Rancher program as he got older. Now, he is the exception to the aging farmer trend. As his father sets his sights on retirement, Robroker has his sights set on taking over the family farm. (Texas Agriculture News) Read more.