Newton County Farm Bureau members B.J. and Kaci Marks of Covington are serving on the Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer Committee for 2014.

The Markses and other farmers on the committee from across the state work to enhance the overall effectiveness of the Georgia Farm Bureau by providing leadership and educational and social opportunities to enable young adults to become more active members, and to assume additional roles of leadership and responsibility within county, state or national Farm Bureau organizations.

Among its many activities, the committee plans and conducts the annual GFB Young Farmer Leadership Conference and coordinates GFB’s Harvest for All Campaign, raising money in support of the Georgia Food Bank Association.

The committee also hosts the GFB Young Farmer Discussion Meet, the GFB Young Farmers trip to Washington, D.C., and the Georgia FFA Discussion Meet.

This is the second year of a two-year term on the committee for the Markses, who have three children: sons Tripp and Joe, and daughter Allie. B.J. is chairman of the NCFB Young Farmer Committee.

B.J., a graduate of Eastside High School, partners with his father Brad and uncle Ben raising Holstein bull calves while growing hay, small grains and beef cattle.

In addition to his farm operation, B.J. works at General Mills. Kaci works as a florist. They attend Starrsville United Methodist Church.

On the GFB Young Farmer Committee, the Markses represent GFB’s 3rd District, which includes Carroll, Clayton, Cobb, Douglas, Fayette, North Fulton, South Fulton, Gwinnett, Haralson, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Polk, Rockdale and DeKalb counties.

Founded in 1937, the Georgia Farm Bureau is the state’s largest general farm organization and has 158 county offices. Its volunteer members actively participate in local, state and national activities that promote agriculture awareness to their non-farming neighbors.