AFBF to honor 24 counties for outstanding programming

The American Farm Bureau Federation will honor 24 county Farm Bureaus at its 104th Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Jan. 6 to 11. The selected winners participated in the County Activities of Excellence program and demonstrated a commitment to offering quality programming to their counties. Attendees can learn more about these winning programs during the trade show at the convention.

“These county Farm Bureaus have demonstrated incredible leadership in their communities by providing programs and services that are improving the lives of their members and those around them,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall.

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

California

• Shared Stewardship, Modoc. Employment and volunteering initiative that ensured completion of local forest projects.

Florida

• Taste of (Volusia), Volusia. A farm-to-table social for members and the public to taste and learn about local products.

Illinois

• Concentrate on Agriculture, DeKalb. A farm memory game for kindergarten students created by farmers and early childhood experts.
• Rural Route Safety Days, McLean. An opportunity for new drivers to see farm machinery up close and learn about sharing the road safely.
• Party for the Pollinators, Cook. A community pollinator garden, community event, educational event and informational presentations teach urban consumers about the connection between pollinators and our food system.
• Farmer’s Mental Health: Cultivating Healthy Minds, Bureau, Marshall-Putnam and Stark. Partnership with a local hospital and development of resources to promote farmer mental health through breakfasts, podcast interviews and an educational video.
• FarmDocs, Champaign. An educational experience for first-year medical students to visit a farm and learn about farm safety issues.

Maryland

• Soil Smart Farm Day, Frederick. One-day tour of four agricultural operations attended by the county executive and county council members as well as elected state government representatives. Attendees learned about agriculture firsthand.

Michigan

• Thanks-4-Giving, Berrien. Partnership with county 4-H clubs and local Collegiate Farm Bureau to provide food baskets for a Thanksgiving meal for local families in need.

Ohio

• • Check Your Engine, Carroll, Jefferson, Harrison & Tuscarawas. Partnership with the county’s Alcohol Drug Awareness and Mental Health Services Board and OSU Extension agents to provide mental health training to people who interact with farmers regularly.
  • Youth Development through County Fair Showmanship Event, Wood. Pee-Wee Beef Showmanship contest for children 5 to 8 years old includes mentoring from older students.
  • Amish Safety Day, Geaugu. Partnership with local authorities to promote a new road safety program for slow moving vehicles of the Amish community.
  • A Therapy Benefit for Farmers, Clinton. Partnership with BetterHelp.com to increase access to mental health resources for farmers.
  • Historic 1920s Farm Bureau Office Project, Fulton. Creation of a 1920s Farm Bureau office as part of a Living Historical Village. The exhibit also helps visitors learn about why Farm Bureau remains relevant today.
  • Farm-to-Table Experience and Policy Development, Lucas. The annual membership meeting included a policy development session and dinner prepared by local food vendors.
  • Farm State of Mind, Pike. A free dinner for members to learn about mental health issues and available resources.
  • Storytime with a Farmer, Fayette. An event for farmers to read agricultural books to children at the local library.
  • Meat your Local Butcher, Gallia. An opportunity for members to meet three local butchers and learn from a meat science professional at the local university.
  • Farm Bureau Goes to Market, Scioto. A series of free educational events for kids at local farmers’ markets.
  • Farm Safety Awareness, Crawford. A farm safety campaign that included signage, reflective stickers and a social media campaign.

Pennsylvania

• Farm-to-Table Gala, Mifflin. Local farmers came together to put on an event showcasing the availability of local products.

Texas

• Reindeer Feed Store, Montgomery. Connected Christmas to agriculture by teaching kids and adults about nutrients needed for a healthy reindeer’s diet.
• Farm Bureau Fred, Cherokee. Members used a cardboard character inspired by Flat Stanley to share educational content about agriculture in a fun and engaging manner.
• Meet and Greet at County Fair, Angelina. Youth and their families connected with board members and learned about Farm Bureau and local agriculture.