DuPage County (Illinois) Farm Bureau’s Grow Your Own Food initiative engaged 4,800 students and 187 teachers across the county – and by extension, their families and communities – in a tomato growing project that illustrated how the food on our tables starts on the farm. The initiative also showed the students they could grow their own food anywhere, even in a 6-inch pot on a patio.

In spring 2024, DuPage County Farm Bureau provided each fourth-grade classroom in the county with a video produced in conjunction with the College of DuPage that taught them about farming, plant care, seed production and transplanting. Afterward, each student transplanted a cherry tomato plant and took it home for the summer.

Students were invited to the DuPage County Fair that July to enter their tomato plant in a special judging – and to have some traditional fair fun. All the students who took home a tomato plant received a free ticket to the fair and a ride bracelet, courtesy of the County Fair Association.

The Grow Your Own Food program was supported by nine businesses and organizations in the county and 79 individuals who donated money and/or time to provide the program to every fourth-grade student and school in the county for free. In addition, the College of DuPage not only helped with the informational video that launched the project in classrooms, but the staff and students there also grew the tomato plants for transplanting in their greenhouse.

Though the students didn’t receive their plants until the spring, planning, supply gathering and educational material compiling started nearly a year before that. In September, the 4,800 students and 187 teachers were registered and county Farm Bureau volunteers began assembling the teacher supply bags, which included transplanting supplies, student worksheets, instructions and ag mags. In April, the teachers received their training resources via email.

The first full week of May, volunteers gathered daily at the fairgrounds to pick up materials – tomato plants, soil and supplies – to deliver to the schools.

A total of 46 volunteers were involved across the whole process.

Teachers showed the students the 15-minute video and led them in the transplanting activity. Students took their tomato plants home for the summer, along with a growth chart, care instructions, a recipe, an ag mag and the County Fair ticket.

On July 26, 37 students brought their plants to be judged at the County Fair. All the participants received a ribbon and four winning students split cash prizes totaling $600. DuPage County Farm Bureau awarded the teacher with the most student participants a $250 Amazon shopping spree for their classroom, which had been donated.

Beyond the benefits for DuPage County Farm Bureau, which included media coverage, membership growth, an increase in their social media following, and a large uptick in the number of new schools reached through their Ag in the Classroom program, name recognition for partners like the College of DuPage and the DuPage County Fair increased, as did fair attendance.

County Activities of Excellence

DuPage County Farm Bureau’s Grow Your Own Food initiative earned the organization a County Activities of Excellence Award. They were among 25 counties invited to display their activity at the 2026 American Farm Bureau Convention trade show in January in Anaheim, California.

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In honor of the International Year of the Woman Farmer, Women in Agribusiness, in partnership with the American Farm Bureau Federation, is expanding their annual Demeter Award to include a female farmer category. Nominations are now being accepted through June 22.

This fourth category joins the three awards Women in Agribusiness has bestowed upon exceptional women in agribusiness each year since 2013. The award highlights women who have achieved excellence in their field or demonstrated an outstanding contribution to the agribusiness industry.

“American Farm Bureau Federation’s Women’s Leadership Committee is excited to collaborate with Women in Agribusiness on this year’s female farmer category of the Demeter Award of Excellence,” said Isabella Chism, chair of the AFB Women’s Leadership Committee. “As we recognize the International Year of the Woman Farmer, this award provides an important opportunity to celebrate the leadership, innovation and contributions of female farmers whose work strengthens the success and sustainability of American agriculture.” 

Criteria for nomination, including self-nomination, includes:

• Woman with a minimum of 10 years of experience in the ag and/or food industry
• Woman who is a positive example to other women in the industry
• Woman who breaks down barriers and serves as a resource for others
• Woman who consistently exemplifies professionalism

“It was more than fitting that we extend our popular WIA Demeter Award of Excellence to highlight a female farmer this year in light of the United Nations’ declaration of it being the International Year of the Woman Farmer,” said Svitlana Synkovska, portfolio director for WIA. “We encourage all women to apply for this prestigious award that continues to flourish and serve as a hallmark of elevating women’s achievements and strengthening their leadership influence across the ag and food sectors.”

The award, named after Demeter, the goddess of the harvest from ancient Greek mythology, is presented to each recipient at the annual Women in Agribusiness Summit, which this year will be in New Orleans, Sept. 22-24. Recipients will be notified prior to the event and receive a complimentary registration to attend and accept their award on stage.

AFBF is promoting the award opportunity among Farm Bureau’s strong network of female farmers across the United States and providing support and recognition through the full award lifecycle, including covering travel and lodging for the winner to accept her award at the Women in Agribusiness Summit.

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To remind farmers that their lives are more valuable than any crop, and that Farm Bureau will always stand beside them – not just as advocates, but as neighbors and friends – Ashtabula County (Ohio) Farm Bureau launched a harvest-time outreach initiative.

Ashtabula County Farm Bureau was intentionally inclusive in its planning for “Feed a Farmer: Harvest of Hope,” bringing in businesses and youth, along with Farm Bureau leaders, to ensure it was a community effort. Partners included ag loan institutions, two grocery stores, area cooperatives and FFA.

Eight volunteers, alongside county staff, set out to deliver 185 snack bags directly to farmers. They also distributed bags at four cooperative grain sites, ultimately reaching farmers from three counties and even a neighboring state.

The snack bags, packed by FFA members, included protein-packed snacks and water; a flyer thanking farmers and encouraging self-care with a QR code for farm stress resources; mental health resource cards with crisis hotline numbers, signs of stress to watch for and a link to peer support networks; and farm-themed stress toys for lighthearted relief. For the FFA members, volunteering was about more than just packing the snack bags, it was about gaining an understanding of the stressors farmers face and the mental health challenges that come with the way of life.

By meeting farmers where they were at – in their fields at harvest time, Ashtabula County Farm Bureau made it easy for farmers to open up, with some just happy for a quick break from the isolation of harvest and many others clearly wanting to talk, a strong sign that human connection mattered as much as the snacks.

County Activities of Excellence
Ashtabula County Farm Bureau’s “Feed a Farmer: Harvest of Hope” earned the organization a County Activities of Excellence Award from the American Farm Bureau Federation. They were among 25 counties invited to display their activity at the 2026 AFBF Convention trade show in January in Anaheim, California.

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Editor's note: This article was written by Katie Wiese, a member of AFBF's YF&R Committee.

Chris Chinn of Missouri exemplifies what it means to turn involvement into impact. Currently serving as Missouri’s Director of Agriculture, Chris is a proud alumna of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee, serving on the committee from 2006–2008, including a term as the second female chair.

Chris and her husband, Kevin, farm in Northeast Missouri, where their diversified farming operation includes farrow-to-finish hogs, a feed mill, hay, cattle and row crops, including corn and soybeans.

Chris and Kevin were content focusing on farming – until they found themselves in a difficult situation. Up against a proposed county health ordinance that would require a permit to raise livestock, Chris and Kevin realized how important it was to get involved in Farm Bureau and advocate on policies that affect their farm. Chris has been a part of many aspects of Farm Bureau beyond the AFBF YF&R Committee, including her state YF&R Committee, the Partners in Advocacy Leadership (PAL) Program and the Missouri Farm Bureau Board of Directors. 

While serving on the AFBF YF&R Committee, Chris remembers the leaders around her telling her to never give up. They reminded her that if you have something you want to accomplish, do not stop until you get it, and look for opportunities to take steps in accomplishing your goals.

When taking on the role of AFBF YF&R chair she knew it would be an adjustment for her family. With passion, time management, courage and thinking outside of the box, she was able to accomplish her goals as chair.

As a leader and advocate, Chris stresses the importance of confidence, especially for women in agriculture. Gender should never determine opportunity, and negative assumptions can be transformed into positive motivation.

Today, Chris is living the next step of her leadership journey as Missouri’s Director of Agriculture. She was appointed by the governor to lead Missouri’s Department of Agriculture in 2017. Chris’ passion for agriculture and advocacy remains strong, and she continues to make a difference through her leadership. She encourages those serving on YF&R committees to make the most of their time and learn from fellow members, leaders and experiences along the way.

Katie Wiese serves on AFBF's YF&R Committee, along with her husband, Dustin. Together they raise beef cattle in Minnesota. Katie also works off the farm for an oil and gas company out of North Dakota.

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Editor’s Note: This article was written by Emmy Powell, Texas Farm Bureau communications specialist, and was originally published on the Texas Farm Bureau website.

Hale County Farm Bureau and Swisher County Farm Bureau (Texas) teamed up to host a series of leadership and networking events designed to connect young farmers and ranchers with other members across the counties, as well as promote Farm Bureau programs and strengthen involvement among the next generation of agricultural leaders.

Nearly 60 young farmers and ranchers attended the leadership development meetings that featured speakers and opportunities for peer-to-peer learning.

“Our goal was to help develop leadership among these young producers and also make them aware of the Farm Bureau resources out there,” Barry Evans, Swisher County Farm Bureau president, said. “We hosted lunch and dinner options to help reach more people. Many young farmers and ranchers aren’t aware of the assets that are available to them.”

The events focused on leadership, advocacy and the value of local Farm Bureau involvement.

“The counties chose to work together as a team to drive more interest in Young Farmer & Rancher events,” Justin Stoerner, Hale County board member, said. “When people see others getting involved, it becomes contagious. Sharing a meal gave everyone a chance to network and learn about the opportunities Farm Bureau offers.”

The collaboration expanded outreach in a sparsely populated region, drawing participation from neighboring Castro and Floyd counties.

“We’re in a very rural part of the state, and the populations of the communities as a whole are declining,” Stoerner said. “It’s becoming more and more vital to work together and to encourage involvement from these young farmers and ranchers.”

Evans agreed, noting that community connections are critical in agriculture.

“Farming is hard. Ranching is hard. But it helps to know there are others facing the same challenges,” Evans said. “It builds a stronger community and makes stronger individuals knowing others in their shoes.”

County Activities of Excellence
Hale County Farm Bureau and Swisher County Farm Bureau’s young farmer and rancher engagement efforts earned the organizations a County Activities of Excellence Award from the American Farm Bureau Federation. They were among 25 counties invited to display their activity at the 2026 AFBF Convention trade show in January in Anaheim, California.

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Cherokee County (Oklahoma) Farm Bureau’s Hay Wrap Take Back, a five-month friendly competition among several county schools, resulted in the collection of more than 13,500 pounds of hay wrap, less wrap-clogged county equipment and visibly cleaner roadsides and farmland.

Launched by Cherokee County Farm Bureau, the program brought together schools, county officials, farmers and community members to address the lack of recycling options for discarded hay net wrap and twine. Providing $500 and securing a matching $500 from the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture’s county grant program, Cherokee County Farm Bureau offered a $1,000 prize to the school that collected the largest amount by weight of hay wrap from October through March. Tama USA , which manufactures John Deere net wrap, also donated $2,000 to the overall cash prizes in the first two years of the program.

The county provided the bins, which they delivered to participating schools. County crews then picked up the bins when the competition closed at the end of March, transported them and weighed the collected materials.

With a focus on both the environmental benefits of recycling the hay wrap and the $1,000 prize, Cherokee County Farm Bureau promoted the contest in schools and through local communication channels, including Facebook.

The results were announced at the Cherokee County Livestock Show. Along with recognizing the school with the greatest total weight, Farm Bureau also highlighted other schools’ creative contributions, such as the largest “ball” of wrap.

County Activities of Excellence
Cherokee County Farm Bureau’s Hay Wrap Take Back earned the organization a County Activities of Excellence Award from the American Farm Bureau Federation. They were among 25 counties invited to display their activity at the 2026 AFBF Convention trade show in January in Anaheim, California.

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“I Love Strawberries,” a Feeding Minds Press book written by children’s book author Shannon Anderson, was recently chosen as an Arkansas Diamond Book Award Winner for 2024-2025. Published in 2022, this popular and beautifully illustrated book chronicles the journey of a young girl determined to grow her own strawberries.

The Arkansas Diamond Book Award for children’s literature is presented annually to an author whose book has been selected through a vote taken by Arkansas school children in grades K-3. The purpose of the award is to promote better reading for children statewide. The Arkansas Diamond Book Award is under the sponsorship of the Arkansas Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Arkansas State Library and the Arkansas Literacy Association, with support from other cooperating organizations.

The award will be formally presented during a luncheon at the Arkansas Literacy Association’s Celebrate Literacy event on July 13, on the campus of Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas.

Other publishing honors previously presented to “I Love Strawberries” are listed below.

• American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture Book of the Year Award

• 2022 Good Housekeeping Best Kids Books inaugural award

• 2023 Benjamin Franklin Gold Award for Picture Book

• 2023 Growing Good Kids Book Award from the Jr. Master Gardener Program

• Bronze Foreword, Indie’s Best Award

• 2023 Hindi’s Best Females in Fiction Award

• 2023 Penelope’s Prize Children’s Book Award Judge’s Selection

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Geneva County (Alabama) Farmers Federation’s Farm-City Youth Council was created to establish a pipeline of future Farm Bureau leaders and supporters from diverse backgrounds.

Beyond shaping leaders and agricultural advocates and equipping them to serve the community, Geneva County Farmers Federation saw several additional opportunities with the council, including giving council members an important role in helping shape an agriculturally literate community and raising the federation’s profile throughout the county.

Leading the charge was the county’s Farm-City Committee, which already had strong relationships with county schools – including committee members who worked at the schools. The committee shared their youth council plans with educators, especially teachers who served as advisors for career tech service organizations, student government associations, FFA, Future Business Leaders of America, SkillsUSA, HOSA (future health professionals) and others.

Once the teachers made their recommendations, the Geneva County Farmers Federation Farm-City Committee chairman formally invited the recommended students to serve on the youth council.

The council was launched at a welcome dinner, with several events for the council to participate in following. Among those events were city council and county commission proclamation signings, the Farm-City Banquet and the regional fair, where the council members created and staffed an agricultural education booth.

Integral to the development of the council members was training them to lead younger students through demonstrations and lessons about sustainability in agriculture. Council members led several programs, including those that taught kindergarten and first grade students about soil; a county-wide fourth grade workshop highlighting the water cycle and how to promote clean water; a county-wide agriculture day for sixth grade students; building raised beds for a preschool; and reading accurate agriculture books to second grade students.

At all of the events, council members wore Farm-City Youth Council-branded t-shirts. The t-shirts also bore the logo of the partner agency that sponsored the council. In addition, council members assisted the agency with agricultural education projects during the school year.

County Activities of Excellence

Geneva County Farmers Federation’s Farm-City Youth Council earned the organization a County Activities of Excellence Award from the American Farm Bureau Federation. They were among 25 counties invited to display their activity at the 2026 AFBF Convention trade show in January in Anaheim, California.

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A partnership with a local camp allowed Franklin County (Kansas) Farm Bureau to engage 80 children ages 5 to 11 in weekly agriculture education sessions that included farm tours, field trips and interactive demos for the campers.

The sessions, which lasted at least 90 minutes each, were incorporated weekly over 10 weeks of camp and focused on structured, hands-on learning about agriculture. The lessons addressed water usage, bee pollination, floriculture and much more. There were corn variety and pedal pull demonstrations, as well as a session during which the campers created corn germination necklaces.

Field trip destinations included a local co-op, popcorn farm, equipment dealership, hoop house farm, pumpkin farm and livestock barns at the county fair.

Each session ended with a short summary and informal quiz.

The camp provided the audience, transportation and staff to assist with the campers. Franklin County Farm Bureau recruited the local farmers and agribusiness owners to host tours and lead demonstrations. County Farm Bureau board members and Ag Ambassadors, along with FFA and 4-H members, helped as tour guides and liaisons between Farm Bureau and the farmers and ranchers involved.

The Summer Ag Education Series met several objectives for the Franklin County Farm Bureau. Along with fostering curiosity, appreciation and understanding of agriculture in several dozen elementary school-aged campers, hosting the sessions throughout the summer extended the students’ exposure to agriculture, which is often confined to the classroom ag lessons during the school year.

In addition, the summer series helped Franklin County Farm Bureau develop stronger connections with farmers and agribusiness owners in the county, as well as community businesses, like the camp. It also put the organization front and center with campers and their parents, some of whom became members. By sharing photos of the farm visits and other field trips on Facebook, Franklin County Farm Bureau gained more than 100 new followers.

The camp session event boosted participation in the county pedal pull event by 40% after campers were introduced to it. Many of the campers went on to compete at the state fair.

County Activities of Excellence

Franklin County Farm Bureau’s Summer Ag Education Series earned the organization a County Activities of Excellence Award from the American Farm Bureau Federation. They were among 25 counties invited to display their activity at the 2026 AFBF Convention trade show in January in Anaheim, California.

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What was started as a small indoor educational garden by Franklin County (Virginia) Farm Bureau blossomed into a year-round outdoor program that not only supports ag education but shows Benjamin Franklin Middle School students how to grow a variety of food sources and helps address local food insecurity.

The project started as a small indoor hydroponics garden and expanded in 2025 into a larger outdoor learning space with multiple raised beds.

Working with math teacher Jennifer Hatch and a school administrator, Franklin County Farm Bureau helped create a planting timeline with a focus on plants that can create student-friendly meals and can produce throughout the school year and in the summer. Hatch leads the lessons and works with the students in the garden, while Farm Bureau provides expertise and secures volunteers and resources, like seeds, plants, fertilizer and soil, when needed.

Each stage of the garden is an opportunity for an agriculture lesson – from composting, cleaning out the raised beds, prepping the soil and applying fertilizer to planting seeds, maintaining the beds and weeding. Harvesting and food preparation are also part of the lesson plan.

On the STEM side, working in the garden exposes students to real-world applications of math, nutrition and science through planting, measuring growth, testing soil, managing compost and learning about garden management.

It’s not only the garden that’s growing, so are the students’ teamwork skills and their understanding of responsibility, problem-solving and long-term project planning.

“It’s full circle,” said Monica Bowman, Franklin County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee member. “Students plant the garden, nurture the plants and learn how to cook and prepare their harvest.”

The students enjoy making pesto from garden-grown basil and fresh salads with leafy greens, tomatoes and sprouts.

The garden also helps address food insecurity in the community, which affects 16.2% of the county’s children.

“Students were asking if they could take some produce home and it became apparent there was a need for food,” Bowman shared. “So, this year we started a backpack harvest” where students bring produce from the garden home to their families.

Bowman estimates over 500 students have been directly involved, with even more learning from the garden as teachers incorporate it into their lessons.

“It just snowballed,” Bowman said. “Students tell other students about it and then they want to participate too.”

County Activities of Excellence

Franklin County Farm Bureau’s year-round middle school garden earned the organization a County Activities of Excellence Award from the American Farm Bureau Federation. They were among 25 counties invited to display their activity at the 2026 AFBF Convention trade show in January in Anaheim, California.

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