Farm Bureau Intel Authors

Autumn Lankford Higgins

Director, Government Affairs

Autumn Lankford Higgins joined the American Farm Bureau Federation in 2025 as director of government affairs. Her work focuses on federal advocacy efforts on critical agricultural policy issues related to technology and rural development, including the farm...

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Bernt Nelson

Economist

Bernt Nelson joined the American Farm Bureau Federation in 2022 as an economist. His work focuses on livestock markets, rural development, finance and agricultural research, with additional expertise in emerging markets, risk management, broadband and...

Areas of Expertise

Livestock Markets, Rural Telecommunications and Broadband, Rural Economic Development Issues, Ag Research, Ag Data, Precision Agriculture

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Brian Glenn

Director, Government Affairs

Brian Glenn joined the American Farm Bureau Federation in 2025 as director of government affairs. His work focuses on farm policy and farm bill Title I programs, renewable fuels, sustainability, pesticides, urban agriculture and other agricultural issues,...

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Cameron Castillo

Associate Economist

Cameron Castillo, a New Mexico native, joined the American Farm Bureau Federation in 2025 as a public policy assistant and was promoted to associate economist in 2026. His work focuses on agricultural labor, taxes and conservation issues, with additional...

Areas of Expertise

Agricultural Labor, H-2A/H-2B/TN visa programs, Tax Policy, Conservation, Pesticides, Food Safety.

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Daniel Munch

Economist

Daniel Munch, a Connecticut native, joined the American Farm Bureau Federation in 2021 as an associate economist and was promoted to economist in 2022. His work focuses on dairy markets, natural disasters, specialty crops, and transportation and...

Areas of Expertise

Dairy Markets & Policy, Disaster Programs, Transportation and Infrastructure, Federal Land Issues & Grazing, Specialty Crops: Fruits, Vegetables, Horticulture, Nursery and...

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Faith Parum, Ph.D.

Economist

Dr. Faith Parum joined the American Farm Bureau Federation in 2025 as an economist. Her work focuses on farm policy, trade and row crop markets, with additional expertise in market outlook and analysis, crop insurance, fertilizer, biotechnology, renewable...

Areas of Expertise

Row Crop Markets, Market Outlook and Analysis, Farm Bill and Federal Crop Insurance, Commodity Futures and Options, Biotechnology, Farm Bill Programs, International Trade, Global...

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John Newton, Ph.D.

Vice President of Public Policy and Economic Analysis

Dr. John Newton is vice president of public policy and economic analysis at the American Farm Bureau Federation, where he leads the organization’s government relations, advocacy, and economics teams. His work focuses on advancing AFBF’s policy priorities and...

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John Walt Boatright

Director, Government Affairs

John Walt Boatright joined the American Farm Bureau Federation in 2022 as director of government affairs. His work focuses on advancing AFBF’s policy priorities with Congress, federal agencies and key stakeholders, with responsibility for farm labor,...

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R.J. Layher

Director, Government Affairs

R.J. Layher joined the American Farm Bureau Federation in 2022 as director of government affairs. His work focuses on livestock, crop insurance and transportation issues. Prior to joining AFBF, R.J. served in congressional, association and federal government...

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Shelby Hagenauer

Senior Director, Government Affairs

Shelby Hagenauer joined the American Farm Bureau Federation in 2021 as director of congressional relations and was later promoted to senior director of government affairs. She leads AFBF’s work on natural resources policy issues, including federal lands...

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Terri Moore

Vice President, Communications

Terri Moore joined the American Farm Bureau Federation in 2019 as vice president of communications. She leads strategic and policy communications, executive and crisis communications, media and digital engagement, marketing, and creative services. Prior to...

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Virginia Houston

Senior Director, Government Affairs

Virginia Houston joined the American Farm Bureau Federation in 2026 as senior director of government affairs. She leads the organization’s work on agricultural trade and tax policy. Before joining AFBF, Virginia directed trade policy, market access,...

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