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 county featured here was recognized for their leadership development program.
The Lincoln County (Tennessee) Farm Bureau Student Advisory Board for high school students, initially launched as a four-month pilot program in 2024, holds meetings, participates in Farm Bureau events, learns about the organization and career opportunities in agriculture and more. The project has blossomed into an annual program and is beginning to yield young farmers and ranchers for the organization.
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.