The Zipline: County Farm Bureaus raising the bar of excellence

One of the most fulfilling aspects of serving as the American Farm Bureau Federation president is getting the chance to witness firsthand the remarkable things our members are doing within their communities.

I have come to learn, starting with my own Farm Bureau journey, that the spirit of community and innovation helps drives our organization at the local level.

Our grassroots leaders are constantly raising the bar and finding new ways to show up and support their communities.

To recognize and celebrate the dedication and creativity of Farm Bureau at the local level, AFBF presents the County Activities of Excellence Awards each year to outstanding counties that raise the bar in local programming.

These awards showcase our grassroots members’ innovation and impact across categories such as Education and Ag promotion, Member Services, Public Relations and Information, Leadership Development, Policy Implementation and Safety.

If that sounds like something already happening in your county, or one nearby, then you’re in luck. Now is the perfect time to nominate them.

Applications for 2024 are open until Aug. 30 at: www.fb.org/initiative/county-activities-of-excellence.

The winners will be announced the first week of October and have the chance to display their county activity Jan. 25-27 at the 2025 American Farm Bureau Convention in San Antonio.

Bringing home this recognition also includes complimentary convention registration and a $4,500 cash award to support travel and display costs.

At our 105th American Farm Bureau Convention in Salt Lake City, we met some exceptional county Farm Bureaus. Each one demonstrated their innovative activities and programs and how they are serving their communities.

I had the opportunity to walk through and meet each of the winners, and I’m eager to share a few examples of the impactful work I saw.

From Illinois, the Coles County Farm Bureau is working to bridge the rural-urban divide with their Touch-A-Truck & Tractor event. This interactive experience allows youth in their community to learn about farm and construction equipment directly from local professionals, creating a deeper understanding of agriculture.

The event also includes an educational activity called “Guess the Grain,” where community members match items from the grocery store with grains they originated from.

Down in Texas, the Montgomery County Farm Bureau put on a youth Discussion Meet and public-speaking contest at their county fair. This event not only helps young folks develop much-needed workplace skills, but also spreads awareness about agriculture topics to fair attendees.

In Ohio, the Henry County Farm Bureau created Shine in the Show Ring, a livestock show that partners those with developmental disabilities with junior livestock exhibitors to try their hand at showing in the ring.

This event not only elevates participants’ ability and self-esteem, but also brought much attention to Farm Bureau, with many counties replicating the show.

Out in Nevada, the Clark County Farm Bureau holds an agriculture-focused conference to provide educational opportunities to community members and networking for small-scale and urban agricultural producers in the area.

The conference features breakout sessions on topics like beekeeping, vegetable production and even agritourism. There are even sessions on essential business skills such as marketing, stress management and farm taxes.

These stories offer just a glimpse of our remarkable 2023 winners, and while I wish I could take you on a trip to see all 24 counties, you can also visit Farm Bureau News — www.fb.org/farm-bureau-news/p2 — where we’ve spotlighted each of our winners.

Who knows — you may be encouraged to nominate your county or inspired with a new idea for next year.

As we gear up for the 106th American Farm Bureau Convention in San Antonio, I look forward to showcasing 24 more counties that continue to raise the bar with their innovative initiatives.

Our county Farm Bureaus are making an incredible impact across thousands of communities, and I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all our grassroots leaders for their efforts and encourage you to keep up the good work.