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County Farm Bureau pilot projects focus on leadership development
At least 16 county Farm Bureaus are trying something new this year in the form of pilot projects, all with the goal of expanding leadership development.
The pilot projects are one component in an Indiana Farm Bureau objective that reads, “Expand leadership development opportunities for emerging leaders, staff and county Farm Bureaus.”
Out of the 16 county pilot projects:
- Four are focused on advocacy
- Two on sharing knowledge
- Two on innovation and growth
- Eight on engagement.
Howard County Farm Bureau wanted to increase board and non-board engagement and increase voting member growth in all age groups, including in the 18-50 age group. Reaching this age group is another INFB priority for this year. The result was the county’s Share Your Why campaign, which features videos of board members sharing their “Farm Bureau why,” explaining why Farm Bureau is important to them.
Six members have been featured in the videos, which can be seen on Howard County Farm Bureau’s Facebook page.
Marion County Farm Bureau identified a need to engage current and prospective members to be more involved with the county Farm Bureau’s activities. “In this process, they identified growing existing partnership opportunities and networking into different spaces within agriculture,” said regional manager Conner Smith.
The group identified food security as a potential avenue for engaging a new demographic, which lead to new opportunities to work with HATCH and Patachou Foundation to help support the work they are doing within Marion County to help promote food security and pathways to food- and agriculture-based careers. HATCH works to increase the availability of animal protein in the nation’s food banks, while the Patachou Foundation focuses on childhood hunger.
In addition, the group had existing partnerships with FFA that were expanded to provide opportunities to participate in state and national activities and to help promote agricultural education within Marion County. Lastly, the group has strengthened the already strong relationship with Purdue Extension by holding joint meetings to cross-collaborate on the needs of the ag community within Indianapolis and surrounding counties.
Vermillion County Farm Bureau is getting more involved in local government with the goal of having a seat at the table to represent agriculture in a positive way. According to regional manager Caitlin Little, the county is attending more local government meetings, setting up meetings with local elected officials, and reporting back to the county board on the meetings attended.
“They want Vermillion County Farm Bureau to become the local voice with elected officials,” Little said. “Their goal is to surface ag-friendly candidates for local office.”
