Local Farm Bureaus recognized at national level

WASHINGTON, DC - The American Farm Bureau Federation honored 24 counties at its 106th Convention in San Antonio, Jan. 24-29. The selected winners participated in the County Activities of Excellence program and demonstrated a commitment to offering quality programming to their counties.

“It’s a pleasure to recognize these outstanding volunteer-driven programs,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “The county leaders responsible for these award-winning programs are committed to supporting rural communities and helping their urban neighbors better understand agriculture.”

A large number of consumers were exposed to a variety of local fruits, vegetables and other farm products in Frederick County, Virginia, supporting the hard-working farmers who make it all possible. Image Credit - AFBF

The winners (listed by state and county Farm Bureau) are:

Florida

“988 It’s OK” Mental Health Initiative, Sumter. Partnership with a local dealer to place decals on tractors promoting the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Georgia

Summer on the Farm Day Camp, Habersham. Virtual tour of different types of farming (dairy, poultry, cotton and beef) for first- through fourth-grade students.

Kentucky

Family Fun Night at the County Fair, Bourbon. Family friendly games and activities for county fair attendees.

Shipping Container to Liberia, Hopkins. Partnership with SOS International and local high school students to convert a 40-foot shipping container into a medical clinic for Liberian citizens on the West African coastline.

Grain Rescue Equipment and Training, Laurel. Purchase of equipment and gear for use in grain entrapment rescues by firefighters, in addition to specialized training.

County Farm Bureau Rodeo, Woodford. A two-day, old-fashioned rodeo to support youth programming in the county and increase agricultural awareness.

Michigan

No Farmer, No Fair Food Exhibit, Berrien. Interactive maze at the county fair that helped attendees learn about how food comes from the farm.

Tire Recycling Project, Saginaw. Farm and semi-truck tire recycling program.

Missouri

Farm Safety Workshop, DeKalb. Workshop for elementary school students focusing on grain bin and chemical safety.

The Wheels on the Farm Go Plant, Tend and Harvest, Livingston. Monthly activities at a children’s library to share information about agricultural products.

Ohio

Cultivating Strong Futures Conference, Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake, Trumball. A conference to address pressing issues facing farms, businesses and rural households in an evolving agricultural landscape.

Manure Pit Safety and Rescue Training, Crawford, Marion, Morrow, Richland. Use of a manure pit safety simulator to train first responders and farmers in rescue operations.

Taste the Future Farm Tour and Field to Table Dinner, Franklin. Scholarship fundraising event at a local land-grant university.

Membership Mashup, Hardin. Event featuring the kickoff of the county membership drive, annual meeting and policy dinner.

Harvest for Hunger, Holmes. Fundraiser hosted by an agritourism business to benefit four local food pantries that serve county residents in need.

Ag Career Connections, Pike. A partnership to connect the food we eat with agriculture and explore the broad range of related careers, for audiences ranging from third graders to older adults.

Oklahoma

Special Needs Livestock Show, Leflore. Livestock show for students in the community with disabilities, conducted in partnership with Cooperative Extension.

Steer & Hog Feed Out Contest, Rogers. Contest to provide students with hands-on experience in production agriculture.

Tennessee

Student Advisory Board, Lincoln. Establishment of a pilot student advisory board made up of local high school students.

Texas

Teacher Appreciation Event, Angelina. An event hosted for one of the largest school districts in the county, to provide a meal and share Ag in the Classroom materials with teachers and other staff.

Ag Day, Mason. Hands-on agricultural learning for kindergarten through second-grade students at the Annual Elementary Ag Day.

Farm to Classroom Storytime, Titus. Board members read an agriculture children’s book at every elementary school in the county.

Feral Hog Management Meeting, Washington, Austin. Informational meeting focused on strategies for feral hog management for members of the community.

Virginia

Farm Explorer Passport Program, Frederick. A new program to boost traffic to rural farm markets and promote agriculture in the county.