Local Farm Bureau Programs Earn National Spotlight

The American Farm Bureau Federation will honor 24 counties at its 107th Convention in Anaheim, California, Jan. 9-14. The selected winners participated in the County Activities of Excellence program and demonstrated a commitment to offering quality programming to their counties. Convention attendees are encouraged to learn more about these winning programs by visiting their booths on the trade show floor.

“It’s a joy to celebrate these innovative, volunteer-driven efforts,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “These county leaders are dedicated to building connections that support rural communities and help bridge the gap between agriculture and urban life.”

The winners (listed by state and county Farm Bureau) are:

Alabama

• Farm-City Youth Council, Geneva. Establish a council to create a pipeline to increase young members’ involvement in agriculture as they grow older.

Illinois

• Grow Your Own Food: A Container to Table Activity, DuPage. Encourage young students to learn about plant life and inspire them to start their own food production at home.

Kansas

• Local & Fresh For All, Atchison. Engage youth by opening a farmers market with an option to make purchases from a printed booklet.
• Ag Education Summer Series, Franklin. Interact with youth aged 5-11 by taking them on farm tours, field trips and interactive demos over a 10-week span.
• Livestock Summit, Jackson. Offer local 4-H members a hands-on learning experience to develop skills in animal selection, nutrition, showmanship and overall livestock knowledge.
• Silver Plate Project, Meade. Reduce food insecurity among seniors by providing educational materials and increasing access to nutritious meals.

Kentucky

• County Wide Ag and Forestry Field Week, Harlan. Promote ag and forestry careers by hosting a field day showcasing educational opportunities in these fields.

Michigan

• Growing Seeds and Minds, Livingston. Create an avenue for Farm Bureau to assist local educators in completing their required state continuing education credits.

Ohio

• Feed a Farmer: Harvest of Hope, Ashtabula. Supply farmers with bags filled with snacks, water and stress-relief items and encourage conversations around mental health during harvest.
• Mission: Discovery, Auglaize. Engage with school districts across the county to provide a day focused on seven different ag-related career paths.
• Show and Tell at the Fair, Columbiana. Involve educators who may not be familiar with agricultural projects and encourage interaction with students.
• Meals for Mom: A Mother’s Day Field Treat, Hancock. Honor Farm Bureau families during Mother’s Day weekend by providing ready-to-go meals in bags that also included Farm Bureau information.
• Ag Tire Recycling Day, Marion and Morrow. Host an event for farmers to safely dispose of tires nearby.
• Ag in the Classroom Conference, Mercer. Host a conference for teachers on the growing need for agriculture education and food-origin knowledge.
• Cultivating Minds Project, Richland. Create fun and engaging kits to improve students’ knowledge about agriculture and the environment.
• Reindeer Farm Christmas Experience, Seneca. Create a pre-Christmas event that engages families around the county and gets them involved with interactive agriculture demonstrations.

Oklahoma

• Hay Wrap, Cherokee. Provide an opportunity for students to dispose of hay net wrap and twine safely in exchange for a chance at a cash prize.
• Block Party, Payne. Host an annual block party to engage families in the community with Farm Bureau in a casual, interactive way.

Oregon

• Annual Pancake Supper, Klamath-Lake. Host an annual pancake supper to show support and gratitude for members and to offer support for the year ahead.

Texas

• Sowing Leadership: A YF&R Engagement Initiative, Hale. Increase participation in YF&R and other activities for young individuals by creating a network of opportunities across counties.
• The Legal Fence Line: Livestock Laws and Landowner Rights, Houston. Host a legal seminar to update members on current agricultural issues.
• Agricultural Agent Retreat, Madison. Increase the visibility of Farm Bureau by hosting a retreat for agricultural agents focused on enhancing livestock projects.

Virginia

• Backpack Harvest, Franklin. A year-round garden to engage students and teachers with Ag in the Classroom projects and increase understanding of local agriculture.
• Sowing the Future: Agriculture Then, Now, and Next, Loudon. A program to recognize the importance of farmland preservation in one of the fastest-growing counties in the U.S.