From Saying Yes to Building Ladders

By Nicole Burbage

For Alisen Anderson, leadership in agriculture is not about being the person at the front of the room. It is about saying yes to opportunities, building relationships, and making sure the people who come behind her have an opportunity to climb higher. That philosophy has shaped her journey through agriculture and the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) program.

Alisen and her husband, Jared, own and operate Ogeechee Ranch in Fairland, Oklahoma, where they steward 1,500 acres and approximately 500 head of commercial Angus cattle. They also operate Anders Farms, farming between 700 and 900 acres annually of corn, wheat and soybeans. Alongside their farm and ranch, Alisen works as a subagent for Oklahoma Farm Bureau Insurance. Alisen and Jared have three children.

Her path to where she is today has taken several turns. After earning a master’s degree in agricultural education from Iowa State University, Alisen spent approximately 11 years teaching at North Eastern Oklahoma A&M College. Then came another opportunity: serving on the AFBF YF&R Committee from 2022 to 2024, where she served as leadership conference subcommittee chair. Afterward, she accepted a position for the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Federation, working as a field representative and eventually becoming involved in legislative policy. That experience opened her eyes to how deeply policy affects farmers and ranchers and how important it is for agricultural voices to be present when those policies are being shaped.

Say Yes

If Alisen could give one piece of advice to someone considering becoming involved in Farm Bureau, it would be simple: say yes. “Say yes to any of the opportunities that you're given,” she said. “You never know how that could affect your life in a positive manner.”

Her own career is proof. Saying yes to Farm Bureau opportunities introduced Alisen to experiences, relationships and leadership opportunities that ultimately helped shape the path she is on today. But for her, saying yes does not mean taking on everything. It means recognizing opportunities where you can give 100% and then fully committing. Her time on the national committee became one of those opportunities.

More Than a Committee

Ask Alisen about her experience on the national YF&R Committee, and she doesn't begin with meetings or projects. She talks about people. Years after her committee term ended, her fellow members remain some of her closest friends. They celebrate one another's successes, support each other through difficult seasons and continue to stay connected as their families and agricultural operations evolve. “They're like brothers and sisters to me,” she said.

The committee also worked to strengthen relationships between the national committee and Farm Bureau members in each state. Being a part of this process taught Alisen just how powerful the Farm Bureau network can be.

Agriculture can be isolating. Farmers and ranchers are spread across the country, but they share a common responsibility to advocate for their industry, educate others and support one another. That is where leadership comes in.

Be the Ladder

One piece of advice Alisen received during her Farm Bureau journey has stayed with her: give people opportunities you didn't have. “I always try to say, I'm a ladder and you just climb up on my shoulders,” she explained. That image has become a defining part of how Alisen views leadership.

Leadership isn't about keeping opportunities for yourself. It is about creating more opportunities for the people who come next. “We need to better this industry and we need to educate folks about how we are able to feed this world,” she said. That philosophy now extends beyond Farm Bureau.

Alisen's background in plant and soil science has made her a resource for Oklahoma legislators navigating complicated agricultural and environmental issues. Even after leaving Farm Bureau's lobbying role, legislators continue to reach out to her for help understanding issues involving agriculture, soil and water.

She has found that she doesn't necessarily need to be the person sitting in the legislative seat to make an impact. Sometimes her greatest influence comes from helping the person in that seat understand agriculture well enough to make an informed decision. “People don't know what they don't know,” she said. Her role is to help them learn.

Knowing What Matters Most

Perhaps the greatest lesson Alisen took from her Farm Bureau experience was a clearer understanding of what matters most. Her career has given her opportunities to travel and speak with and address thousands of people. Those experiences were meaningful, but they also gave her perspective.

After spending so much time away from home, she realized her greatest priorities were much closer. Today, Alisen still wants to use her experience and knowledge to serve agriculture. However, she now serves by staying connected to her farm, her family and her community while being just a phone call away from legislators in need.

Building What Comes Next

For Alisen, the future of agriculture ultimately comes down to the next generation. Those currently involved in agriculture have a responsibility to leave the industry stronger than they found it. That means supporting one another, sharing knowledge and creating opportunities for others to grow.

“When people are able to climb on your shoulders, let them,” she said. It is a philosophy that captures Alisen's YF&R journey. She said yes to opportunities that shaped her career. She built relationships that have lasted well beyond her committee term. She grew as a leader and found new ways to influence agricultural policy and now she is using those experiences to help others climb higher.

The legacy of an AFBF YF&R Committee member doesn't end when the committee term does. Sometimes, it looks like a career shaped by an unexpected opportunity. Sometimes, it looks like lifelong friendships. Sometimes, it looks like helping a policymaker understand agriculture, and sometimes, it simply looks like holding out your shoulders and saying to the next person: Climb up. There's room for you here.

Nicole Burbage serves on AFBF’s YF&R Committee, along with her husband, Shiloah. Together they raise cattle and goats in South Carolina. Nicole also works off the farm as a licensed real estate professional and appraiser.