From Library Events to Fair Activities, County Farm Bureaus Teach All About Agriculture

By Lilly Stewart

Through its annual County Activities of Excellence Awards, the American Farm Bureau Federation celebrates county Farm Bureaus for their unique, volunteer-driven programming. The counties featured here were recognized for their education and ag promotion programs.

Berrien County Farm Bureau Connects Farmers and Fair Food

Berrien County (Michigan) Farm Bureau created an interactive straw maze at the county fair for children to discover even delicious fair food comes from the farm. The straw maze included stations where kids learned about the commodities used in the foods. The county Farm Bureau also provided the children a recipe and checked off their visit to the maze with a punch card, which the children could turn in for a prize once it was full. More than 2,800 kids and numerous adults visited the county’s “No Farmer, No Fair Food” display.

Franklin County Farm Bureau Brings Consumers A Farm to Table Experience

Franklin County (Ohio) Farm Bureau partnered with a land grant university farm, hospitality students and meat science team to put together a locally sourced meal for urban and suburban consumers who normally have limited interactions with farming and ranching. Prior to the meal, attendees toured the university farm and participated in a small farmers market. The dinner raised money for the Franklin County Farm Bureau scholarship fund supporting students pursuing careers in agriculture.

Frederick County Farm Bureau Plotting the Farm-to-Stamp Trail

Frederick County (Virginia) Farm Bureau engaged the community in the Farm Explorer Passport Program to increase traffic to farmers markets supporting local farmers. Participants could pick up a free passport from various locations and received stamps for visiting 10 participating farmers markets. Once the passport was full, participants return the completed passport to the county’s visitor center for a special prize.

Habersham County Farm Bureau Hosts Virtual Summer on the Farm Camp

Habersham County (Georgia) Farm Bureau brought the farm to first through fourth grade via virtual tours to explore the realities of farm life. “Summer on the Farm” day camp was a week of learning about agricultural commodities. Each day focused on a different commodity including dairy, poultry, cotton and beef, all items students could relate back to their everyday lives.

Holmes County Farm Bureau Fundraises for Local Food Pantries

Holmes County (Ohio) Farm Bureau partnered with a local agritourism business to host Harvest for Hunger, an event to combat food insecurity in their community. The event offered a cookout-style meal and access to a petting zoo in exchange for donations. Through sponsorships, donations and a live auction, the county Farm Bureau raised $18,000 for four local food pantries.

Leflore County Farm Bureau Hosts Special Needs Livestock Show

To help individuals with special needs and disabilities get involved in the county livestock show, Leflore County (Oklahoma) Farm Bureau hosted the Special Needs Livestock Show. This gave 80 students an opportunity to participate in the show and gain experience with agriculture and livestock donated by local producers.

Livingston County Farm Bureau Promotes Ag Literacy at Library

Livingston County (Missouri) Farm Bureau promoted agriculture literacy in their community with a monthly evening county library event incorporating information and activities related to different agriculture products for children aged 4-10. Each month focused on a different topic, activity and farmer guest speaker.

Mason County Farm Bureau Ag Day Connects Young Students to Agriculture

Mason County (Texas) Farm Bureau hosts an Ag Day for kindergarten through second grade students to highlight some of the many forms of ag production in the United States. The county Farm Bureau offers multiple stations, from watching a farrier trim horses to seeing the inside of a semi tractor-trailer.

Pike County Farm Bureau Connects Individuals with Careers in Agriculture

Pike County (Ohio) Farm Bureau’s Ag Career Connections events have shared careers in agriculture with more than 900 people ranging from third graders to older adults. At the events, Pike County Farm Bureau introduces 10 career pathways and occupations included in each path, providing information about the levels of education required and the potential salary. 

Rogers County Farm Bureau Teaches the Roots of Food

Rogers County (Oklahoma) Farm Bureau hosted a creative contest to get kids learning about how their food is produced. The contest replicated the real-world process of feeding and caring for animals that will be used for consumption. Participants were taught where to buy animals, what to feed them and optimal weights for the contest. After feeding the animal for 120 days the animal was butchered and graded. From there, participants were scored in the animal’s rate of daily gain and carcass merit. Students loved the hands-on opportunity to be involved in production agriculture.

Titus County Farm Bureau Reads Ag Books to Kids

Titus County (Texas) Farm Bureau board members read “Barn at Night” by Michelle Houts to students at seven elementary schools in the county. The board members interacted with the students, teaching them about farms and agriculture. After reading the book, the county Farm Bureau donated them to the school library.

Woodford County Farm Bureau Ropes Youth into Agriculture with Rodeo

Over 2,500 attendees came to Woodford County (Kentucky) Farm Bureau’s first rodeo, teaching community members about the sport, increasing funds for philanthropic initiatives and member support, providing opportunities for kids to learn about ag and for the county Farm Bureau to grow its social media pages.

County Activities of Excellence

Applications are now open for the 2025 County Activities of Excellence. Up to 24 counties will display their winning activities at the 2026 American Farm Bureau Convention in Anaheim, California, in January. County award winners receive up to four free registrations to the Annual Convention (cost of travel and housing not included) and a $4,500 stipend to apply toward the cost of travel and exhibition.

Lilly Stewart is a summer 2025 intern in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Communications and Executive departments. She is a rising senior in agricultural business at the University of Wyoming.