The Zipline: Explore new frontiers in Salt Lake City

Have you saved your spot at the 2024 American Farm Bureau Convention? There’s still time! I’m excited for the lineup as we explore New Frontiers together in Salt Lake City Jan. 19-24. We’ve got something for everyone, so be sure to bring the family and invite a few friends along.

Our general sessions will shine a spotlight on all the great work across Farm Bureau and celebrate the achievements of the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs from events like the Ag Innovation Challenge to Young Farmer & Rancher competitions. Each general session will also feature inspiring keynotes that will help us look to the future.

On Sunday afternoon, we’ll hear from global futurist and best-selling author Jack Uldrich. While Uldrich can’t predict the future for our farms and ranches, he can help us prepare for it. He will challenge us to look beyond what we can see today and anticipate what’s around the corner for agriculture so that we can succeed together.

We’ll close out our annual convention hearing from Greg Harden, best-selling author and former associate athletic director of student counseling at the University of Michigan. Over his career, he has counseled more than 400 student athletes who went on to careers in professional sports.

You may have heard of a few of his former students, such as Tom Brady, Michael Phelps and Desmond Howard. I am sure his message about coaching and mentorship will be timely for all of us and inspire us as we head into a new year.

But you won’t have to wait for the general sessions to explore engaging content and enjoy fellowship across the Farm Bureau family at the annual convention. From farm tours to the Trade Show Experience, activities will already be in full swing for all on Saturday, Jan. 20.

The national Program and Education Committee will be hosting their Communicate, Collaborate and Influence training again this year. The entire program is open to any Farm Bureau member interested in connecting with consumers and sharing agriculture’s story more broadly.

They’ll be kicking things off Saturday afternoon with an inspiring message from the Cowboy Coach, Jon Anderson, who will share how faith and family has carried him through, both on the farm and beyond.

The Trade Show Experience will continue to be a busy hub all weekend long, so you’ll want to plan to spend extra time checking out all the exciting events there this year.

We’ve got a full lineup planned at the Cultivation Center Stage. To name a few folks you will see there, Tara Vander Dussen and Natalie Kovarik will be back with a live recording of their popular Discover Ag podcast. Amanda Nigg, better known as the FarmFitMomma, will join us to talk about the connection between mental health and physical wellbeing and her wellness journey in the agriculture community.

We’ve also got a great lineup of panels and fireside chats planned, covering topics from engaging Gen Z consumers to strengthening links across the supply chain.

You also won’t want to miss the live Final Four competitions for the Ag Innovation Challenge and the YF&R Discussion Meet.

We’re welcoming back the always popular and entertaining Purina Show Dogs — they’re a favorite for my grandkids, for sure. These show dogs will join us on Saturday to help celebrate the important role our four-legged friends play on the farm. Then, at our general session main stage, one top farm dog will be named the new Farm Dog of the Year. In the meantime, you can vote for the People’s Choice Pup on our social media channels.

Now, I’ve only been able to give a snapshot of all we’ve got in store at the 2024 American Farm Bureau Convention. You can be sure we’ll have all our hallmark Farm Bureau events — from the Sunrise Service hosted by the Women’s Leadership Committee to the Foundation Flapjack Fundraiser.

Plus, our team of policy experts and economists will provide insights on the policies and perspectives affecting your farms, ranches and agribusinesses for the next year and beyond with informative and engaging workshops throughout the weekend.

I hope you’ll visit the event website — https://annualconvention.fb.org/ — to learn more about these events and everything else we have planned for you as we get ready to explore new frontiers in Salt Lake City.