Feb 23, 2026 by Heidi Gant, INFB Marketing Team
Contact:
Heidi Gant
317-692-7828
hgant@infb.org
(Indianapolis) – Feb. 23, 2026 – The annual Innovate and Grow Conference presented by Indiana Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ag Professionals took place this past weekend in Indianapolis. The conference provided an opportunity for education and networking for INFB members under the age of 40.
The opening session kicked off with a keynote speech from Dallas Clark, retired tight end who played in the National Football League for the Indianapolis Colts (2003-2011), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2012) and Baltimore Ravens (2013). Upon retiring from football, Clark moved back to his hometown of Livermore, Iowa, where he operates a 100-acre farm. Clark also oversees the Dallas Clark Foundation which strives to give back to the community through educational scholarships, helping fund local town improvements and teaching area youth about football and physical fitness.
The second keynote speaker was Mary Pat Sass, an influencer, farm wife, mom and agriculture advocate from northern Illinois. With a background in agricultural technology, she transitioned from a corporate ag career to life on her family’s farm, where she discovered the power of storytelling. Through social media, Sass has built a large and engaged audience by sharing honest, everyday moments from farm life and rural motherhood. She uses her platform to advocate for agriculture, bridge the gap between farmers and consumers and encourage others in agriculture to confidently share their own stories online – something that young farmers and ag professionals are uniquely positioned to do.
Other conference programming focused on special interest sessions to motivate and prepare young farmers and agriculture professionals for success as their careers develop. Breakout sessions focused on hot topics in the ag industry, including farm preparedness, farm financials and tax tips, the evolving spray drone industry, ways to diversify your farm, effective storytelling for modern agriculture and more.
Additionally, INFB offered local industry tours as part of the conference agenda including trips to Smoking Goose Meatery (Indianapolis), Beck’s Hybrids headquarters (Atlanta, Indiana) and Four Day Ray Brewing (Fishers, Indiana). The conference concluded with dinner at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.
Alongside keynote and breakout sessions, county YF&AP programs were honored for their accomplishments in 2025.
Henry County Farm Bureau’s YF&AP program was recognized with the Outstanding County Young Farmers & Ag Professionals Award given to the top county program in the state. Henry County Farm Bureau will receive $1,000 to create a new YF&AP program/event or improve an existing program. YF&AP programs in Johnson and Huntington counties were runners-up.
Many of Henry County’s YF&AP programs for 2025 focused on philanthropy and community. Their YF&AP committee coordinated a bowling night and cookout for YF&AP members in their county to network, as well as a pedal pull during their county fair and local Sulphur Springs Community Days. The committee also prepared agricultural classroom kits for FFA chapters to teach students about the layers of soil, as well as organized the popcorn booth at the Henry County Fair and helped to sponsor the Henry County 4-H awards dinner.
County YF&AP programs also were recognized for their contributions to Feeding America, a nonprofit with a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks leading the fight against hunger in the United States. Henry County Farm Bureau’s YF&AP program donated the most dollars to Feeding America. Johnson County Farm Bureau’s YF&AP program also was recognized for most hours volunteered and most pounds of food donated with over 1,000 pounds contributed.
In addition, a new state YF&AP chair, vice chair and secretary took office at the conference. Kylie Wagoner of Henry County will serve as chair for 2026, Amie Osborn of Miami County will serve as vice chair and Cameron Yundt of Scott County will serve as secretary. The committee also welcomed the following district YF&AP leaders to serve two-year terms.
For more information on the program, visit www.infb.org/YFAP.
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About Indiana Farm Bureau: For more than 100 years, Indiana Farm Bureau (INFB) has protected and enhanced the future of agriculture and our communities. As the state’s largest general farm organization, INFB works diligently to cultivate a thriving agricultural ecosystem to strengthen the viability of Indiana agriculture. Learn more at INFB.org.
