2026 Young Farmers & Ranchers Conference

Charles Wingard is the Vice President of Field Operations at Walter P. Rawl & Sons, Inc., located in Pelion SC. He has worked in his family’s business since graduating from Clemson University in 1987 with a degree in agricultural economics. His primary duties include the oversight of approximately 8,000 acres of vegetable production in South Carolina, Florida, Pennsylvania and Michigan. He and his family are active in many groups that promote issues in the agricultural and produce industry including Clemson University, Farm Bureau, International Fresh Produce Association, FFA and others. He and his wife Jan have three children and live in Gilbert, SC.

Growing up on a family farm in Oswego, SC and working in the family business – Lowder Brother’s Gin Company – Dr. Milt Lowder has deep roots in agriculture. Starting as a weed puller, then moving on to driving tractors and eventually on to “store manager,” he learned first-hand the value of hard work, the importance of good habits, and that you truly do reap what you sow. By observing his family, he learned the power of a positive attitude and developed a respect for the perseverance necessary for growth.

This background is the foundation of Dr. Lowder’s beliefs and career path that led to his current role as the Founder and CEO of Synergy Performance. A licensed counseling psychologist, he completed his Ph.D. with a concentration in Organizational Development from the University of Kentucky. He also serves as the Sport Psychologist for the Clemson University Athletic Department. There, he works with student-athletes, teams, and coaches to improve their performance and to assist them as they deal with the pressures of college athletics and life. Coach Swinney acknowledges that “Milt has been an integral part of our success since 2009.”

It is from this unique perspective that Milt will approach his time with the Farm Bureau. He will share concepts for a sound mental approach to cultivating your fertile soil and leveraging best practices to face today’s many challenges. 

Whether speaking, coaching, or consulting, Dr. Lowder challenges others to become better leaders at work, at home, and in their community. He helps his clients narrow the gap between who they are and who they want to be. This is achieved by raising their awareness, calling them to meaningful action, and learning to hold themselves accountable to what they believe.

Dr. Lowder is married with three children and lives in Greenville, SC. He enjoys spending quality time with his family, attending sporting events, and being outdoors.

Gary is a 7th-generation farmer from Furman, South Carolina, in Hampton County, and has been married to his wife, Linda, for over 37 years. They have 2 children, Haley Hinson (Tanner) and Grant Youmans (Stephanie) and one granddaughter, Mims Hinson. After graduating from Clemson in 1986 with a degree in agricultural economics, he returned to the family farm to begin a career in agriculture. Linda is a registered nurse and worked many years in the local hospital, as a school nurse and then at a local doctor's office. Haley followed Linda’s footsteps into a nursing career, while Grant followed his through Clemson with a degree in ag mech and back to the farm. His son-in-law, Tanner, also works at the family farm. Over the years, Gary has served on the Hampton County Farm Bureau board, holding various positions. Together, he and his wife served on the State YF&R committee many years ago. While having previously diversified into other crops, including watermelons and catfish, they currently grow row crops and sod.

JEB Wilson is a fifth-generation farmer who lives on his farm in Chester. JEB grows a variety of crops including peaches, watermelons, strawberries, pumpkins, sweet corn, tomatoes, cotton and rye. He serves on several committees within Farm Bureau including the state and national legislative committees, the land trust committee and the insurance board. He has also served on the state FSA committee. JEB and his wife Jane are raising two sons, Mac age 16 and Burris age 10.

AFBF Vice President Scott VanderWal is a third-generation corn and soybean farmer and cattle feeder from Volga, South Dakota. Their family operation is just west of Brookings, South Dakota, which is the home of South Dakota State University. 

VanderWal was elected AFBF vice president in 2016 and soon after was selected to represent AFBF on the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action board of directors. Hel continues to serve as president of the South Dakota Farm Bureau, a position he’s held since June 2004. 

His early Farm Bureau leadership roles include service on the SDFB Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee and the AFBF YF&R Committee. VanderWal also traveled to Germany as a McCloy Fellow in 1996 and represented agriculture during missions to Brazil in 2001 and Cuba in 2004. Scott and his wife, Michelle, are proud parents of two sons and grandparents of six and are active in their local community and church.