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.