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Contact:
Garrett Kelly
317-692-7825
317-205-5286
gkelly@infb.org

Note to editors, news directors: The release below mentions many different county Farm Bureaus, but it should be of particular interest to media that cover Benton, Clark, Jay, LaPorte, Shelby and Warrick counties.

(Fort Wayne, Ind.) – December 7, 2018 – During a special reception held for award winners at the Indiana Farm Bureau state convention, the organization recognized the achievements of county Farm Bureaus.

This year, seven Impact Awards were presented to county Farm Bureaus. The Impact Award recognizes county Farm Bureaus for efforts that result in a significant impact or an increase in political influence and clout. This year’s winners were honored for achievements in the categories of image awareness, membership and membership experience.

Image awareness

• Benton County for its Farm to Fork dinner. The county Farm Bureau used the dinner as an opportunity to raise awareness of Farm Bureau by celebrating agriculture and raising money for the Benton Community Food and Service Co-op (BCFSC). There were 160 attendees at the event and $10,000 was raised for the BCFSC.

   

• Clark County for its Farm Fact Friday Facebook posts. The county Farm Bureau taught the public about agriculture by sharing a farm fact on its Facebook page every Friday. The initiative was used to start meaningful conversations about agricultural topics and increase the awareness of agriculture’s impact on the community.

   

• Jay County for its Cooking Club. The county Farm Bureau started an after-school program that taught students how to prepare nutritious snacks and meals. Part of the initiative was an attempt to teach the importance of a healthy lifestyle, while the other goal was to educate children on how their food is produced.

Membership

• LaPorte County for its County Fair Membership Blitz. The county Farm Bureau took advantage of the crowds at the county fair to recruit new members. The campaign also provided an opportunity to educate new and existing INFB members on both membership benefits and the different classes of membership. The initial goal was to recruit 15 new members and the campaign ended with 19 new memberships written.

   

• Warrick County for its Membership Campaign. The objective of the county Farm Bureau’s campaign was to build membership and increase the clout of INFB. The county board members created a prospect list, which targeted agribusiness professionals and their spouses. Eighteen new members in Warrick County joined the organization as a result of the campaign.

   

  Member Experience

• Jay County for its Farm Bureau Barbecue Contest. The county Farm Bureau showcased the grains, produce and livestock raised by farmers in the county by holding a barbecue contest at the county fair. The campaign effectively raised awareness of the county Farm Bureau within the community, highlighted how Farm Bureau is the voice of agriculture and allowed county board members to bond.

   

• Shelby County for its POET Project Action Alert. The county Farm Bureau raised awareness of the proposed ethanol plant and increased support for the project. The call to action brought members, farmers and friends of Shelby County agriculture together for an informational session in support of the project. The end result was the approval of the POET Biorefining facility in the county.

INFB also announced counties who reached gold and platinum status for the County Recognition Program. INFB’s County Recognition Program was developed six years ago to recognize contributions to the organization. This year’s categories for consideration included image awareness, membership experience and membership. Counties earn bronze or silver status in each category based on predetermined requirements for the program year.

If a county received silver status in all three categories, they were awarded gold status. If a county achieved gold status, attained 100 percent voting membership and completed at least 30 activities in the goals, they were awarded platinum status. This year, 29 counties achieved gold status and 20 counties achieved platinum status.

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About Indiana Farm Bureau: Since 1919, Indiana Farm Bureau (INFB) has protected the livelihood, land, equipment, animals and crops of Hoosier farmers. It is the state’s largest general farm organization and a farmer’s strongest advocate. INFB works diligently to ensure a farmer’s right to farm, because agriculture is so vital to Indiana’s economy. Learn more at INFB.org