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“Defining Our Future,” Indiana Farm Bureau’s grassroots-developed strategic plan, was rolled out in 2017, and since that time, the initiatives directed by the membership have benefited the organization and Hoosier farmers in many ways.

“‘Defining Our Future’ has led the organization through our 100th year and has altered how we support the goals of our members,” said Megan Ritter, INFB executive director of administration, who coordinated the strategic planning process.

Ritter said that in the years since the roll-out, INFB has seen success in all six strategic areas of focus, which are:

• Grow membership in a consistent and sustainable way.
• Create a positive member experience.
• Create and promote a positive image of agriculture. “Tell our story.”
• Develop an organizational structure that strengthens county Farm Bureaus.
• Improve awareness of INFB as a valuable resource.
• Continue successful advocacy efforts at all levels.

Among the changes that can be attributed to the implementation of the strategic plan are growth in total membership for each of the past four years and the recruitment by members of 2,527 new members since 2017. The organization also has benefited from the additional engagement of 547 new volunteers since 2018.

Other important initiatives include:

• A review of current programs by the INFB board of directors and the addition of new programs that create a more positive experience. Among these new programs are a communications workshop for INFB women; legislative advocacy programs for FFA, Young Farmers & Ag Professionals and women; AgELECT, the new state-level political action committee; and the Book of the Year program. Nearly 5,000 books have been donated statewide the last three years for the Book of the Year program.
• Updated INFB’s website to make it more user-friendly and provide more timely information. Additional website updates are planned for this year.
• Doubled the INFB’s ad value circulation for INFB news coverage from $1.3 million in 2017 to $2.6 million as of December 2019, and increased INFB’s news coverage by 44%. Since March 2017, INFB also has more than doubled its Facebook presence (6,506 likes, up from 3,077) and increased its followers on both Twitter (from 5,609 to 6,821) and Instagram (from 831 to 1,414).
• Created a digital advertising campaign. From May 2018 through July 2019, the campaign generated 17.6 million total impressions, 9 million Facebook ads, 5.8 million display ads through Google search and 87,334 total clicks through to the INFB website.
• Increased by 47% the number of members who use INFB’s online tools to contact legislators on important agricultural issues.
• Increased the average individual contribution of the membership to ELECT and AgELECT, INFB’s political action committees.
• Maintained the organization’s clout and influence in the legislative process and engaged new members in initiatives such as WOTUS, broadband availability, road funding, trade, Farm Bill implementation, conservation and property tax assessments.
• Created new staff positions to better serve counties and members, including the county marketing coordinator, membership marketing coordinator and youth engagement coordinator.