Throughout 2019, Indiana Farm Bureau celebrated in many ways its 100 years of history and service to farmers. Here are some of those ways:
It has truly been a year of celebration.
We’ve accomplished so much in our first 100 years, but now it’s time to focus on our future and the future of our members.
Farm Bureau has always been an advocacy organization, and its advocacy is based on the needs of our members. In the 1920s, we created the marketing cooperatives. In the 1930s, we created the insurance company to provide something not available to many farmers at the time. And through the years we’ve advocated for issues of importance to farmers, such as property tax reform, rural electrification, abolishing inheritance taxes and supporting Indiana’s Right to Farm law.
But in 2020, we’ve started a new campaign: Finding ways to make health care more affordable for members. This is Farm Bureau’s top priority during the 2020 General Assembly.
We are the voice that supports all of agriculture. The lack of affordable health care for members of the agriculture community who are self-employed is a major problem, and INFB members have repeatedly asked for help in navigating this complex issue. In fact, a survey conducted in December of Indiana residents who farm or work in agriculture showed that health care costs were the No. 1 concern of survey respondents.
We will need to advocate as a group. I hope you will join Farm Bureau in tackling this important issue as we enter our second 100 years.