By Cora Okkema

As the first Michigan Farm Bureau president who primarily grows specialty crops, Ben LaCross of Leelanau County attributes his rise in leadership to those who found a place for him in the organization. Along with his wife Kelsey, their three children — Keaton, Lauren and Cameron — and his parents, Ben grows cherries, apples and plums on the family farm.

Ben’s Farm Bureau journey began shortly after college when he was invited to serve on the state Young Farmer Committee, sparking a dedication to advocating for agriculture that would shape his entire career.

Ben fondly reminisced about the conversation he and his wife shared on their way home from his first state Young Farmer Committee meeting: “I had found my home. I had found a group of farmers who were as motivated as me to do good things in agriculture. That passion for Farm Bureau, our members and agriculture hasn't waned from that day.”

During his two-year term on the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee, a position he was appointed to in 2010, Ben was elected chair from 2011-2012. The experience taught him how to lead peers he deeply respected and looked up to. He learned that leading highly motivated individuals requires finding ways to give them purpose in their service, a skill that served him well as a Michigan Farm Bureau district director and now as president, a position he was elected to in winter 2024. Ben was elected to serve on the American Farm Bureau Federation board of directors in January 2025.

Having experienced many of the milestones and challenges young farmers and ranchers face, like getting married, starting farms or ranches, and growing families, Ben understands the importance of inviting and listening to young voices. This cross-generational knowledge sharing builds community across different commodities and farming traditions.

Michigan Farm Bureau's programs, from Project RED to the Lansing Legislative Summit, offer opportunities for members at all levels. The networks and relationships created through this service strengthen agriculture while helping members learn to share their unique stories. Farm Bureau provides a foundation for sharing those stories and becoming a resource for others who lack direct agricultural connections.

The role of Michigan Farm Bureau president can seem mysterious to those not serving in executive positions. Ben is working to change that by staying present locally through listening sessions, visiting district meetings across the state and leveraging partnerships to create opportunities for more people to learn about and get involved in agriculture.

Remembering that his own start resulted from being invited to the table, Ben now gets to offer that same chance to others. As he looks toward the future of Michigan agriculture, his vision is clear: creating an environment where farmers can grow and prosper, solving problems they can't tackle alone and ensuring that every voice, whether from a cherry orchard, urban garden or a dairy barn, has a place at the Farm Bureau table. After all, as he learned nearly two decades ago in Lansing, finding your home in agriculture often begins with a simple invitation.

Cora Okkema serves on the AFBF YF&R Committee. She is the owner/operator of Okkema Cattle Company, a custom dairy heifer-raising business in Michigan. Cora is also a territory manager & calf specialist with Dairy Tech LLC.

Read Article on FB.org

To engage with the public about agriculture, New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau hosted Ag Day at the Albuquerque Isotopes.

The event, held June 24, 2024, drew over 6,000 attendees. Multiple state agricultural organizations were invited to host a booth and show the urban Alburquerque audience how they are connected to agriculture in their daily life. Additionally, the NMF&LB hosted an interactive activity displaying agricultural facts specific to baseball.

Along with the various agricultural organizations, two member benefit dealerships displayed equipment and a vehicle, showcasing one of the many perks of being a Farm Bureau member. The two dealerships were situated in front of the stadium, next to a local FFA chapter displaying their show animals.

Both farmer and associate members volunteered at the NMF&LB booth, handing out cowbells with the NMF&LB and Isotopes logos to the first 3,000 attendees and connecting with urban members on the importance of agriculture. State policymakers joined NMF&LB in their VIP suite to directly interact with Farm & Livestock Bureau members and hear what issues are most important to them.

State Awards of Excellence

Ag Day at the Isotopes earned NMF&LB a state Award of Excellence in the coalitions and partnerships category, presented by the American Farm Bureau Federation. The award is presented annually at the AFBF convention.

Read Article on FB.org

The American Farm Bureau Federation’s new Member Benefit partner provides solutions for team-wide communications and asset record management. Wisconsin-based Gripp offers an operator-centric way to manage and keep records of any important assets using an app that keeps everyone on the team connected in real time.

Along with being the organization’s newest Member Benefit partner, Gripp, led by Farm Bureau member Tracey Wiedmeyer, is the 2025 AFBF Ag Innovation Challenge winner.

“The member benefit partnership, like the Ag Innovation Challenge, is an opportunity to get Gripp into the hands of growers and producers nationwide, transforming the way they manage their operation’s assets and communicate with their teams, so they're able to focus on thriving in every season,” said Wiedmeyer.

As a Farm Bureau Member Benefit partner, Gripp will offer exclusive discounts on products and services to help Farm Bureau members on and off the farm.

Gripp bills itself as is agriculture’s easiest way to track what’s most important to farmers and their farms, from trucks to trees, pivots to power units. The app, available on all desktop and handheld operating systems, allows users to keep tabs on everything across all brands in one place. Through Gripp, farmers can seamlessly message their teams, keeping conversational context from escaping the farm, stay up to date on service intervals with alerts and reminders and keep asset data centralized and accessible to their operators.

Farmers are using the platform’s tools for tracking equipment and assets, managing maintenance schedules, facilitating team communication and documenting operational knowledge. They also use it to manage rental housing and office maintenance needs, plus personal vehicle repair and more.

You can even test out leaving a note on a skid steer, as you would on your own equipment.

Learn more about the many ways Gripp can help you simplify and streamline your records for maintenance, operations and more, or sign up today at www.gripp.ag.

Farm Bureau® Member Benefits

It pays to be a Farm Bureau Member. Farm Bureau is working to help members achieve their goals through savings on the products and services they need. On behalf of Farm Bureau’s nearly 5.9 million members, Farm Bureau is thankful for our national member benefit partners and the value they add to every membership.

In 2024, national member benefits programs saved members over $12,000,000*, creating over $1,500,000* in revenue to support the Farm Bureau mission. Learn more about Farm Bureau® Member Benefits here or contact your state Farm Bureau.

Ag Innovation Challenge

The Ag Innovation Challenge showcases U.S. startups developing solutions to the many unique challenges farmers, ranchers and rural communities face. As the 2025 AFBF Ag Innovation Challenge winner, Gripp received a total of $100,000 to grow their business.

Sponsored by Farm Credit, Bayer Crop Science, John Deere, Farm Bureau Bank, Farm Bureau Financial Services and T-Mobile, the Challenge is now in its 12^th year.

The four teams advancing to the final round will each receive $10,000 and will be announced on Sept. 10. The four teams will compete on Monday, Jan. 12, at the AFBF Convention in front of a live audience of Farm Bureau members, investors and industry representatives.

Top titles and prizes will be awarded as follows:

• Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge Winner, total of $100,000
• Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge Runner-Up, total of $25,000

* Based on available figures and estimated average prices.

Read Article on FB.org

By Lilly Stewart

Through its annual County Activities of Excellence Awards, the American Farm Bureau Federation celebrates county Farm Bureaus for their unique, volunteer-driven programming. The counties featured here were recognized for their public relations programs.

Hopkins County Farm Bureau Builds Medical Clinic for Liberia Community

Hopkins County (Kentucky) Farm Bureau converted a 40-foot shipping container into a medical clinic to be used in Liberia, Africa. Partnering with SOS International, Hopkins County Farm Bureau collected medical supplies and engaged over 400 high school students in building the clinic, involving them in everything from designing the clinic to putting in the plumbing.

Austin County Farm Bureau Hosts Feral Hog Management Meeting

Austin County (Texas) Farm Bureau educated members and non-members on best practices to deal with feral hogs, including entrapment.

Angelina County Farm Bureau Says ‘Thank You’ to Teachers

Angelina County (Texas) Farm Bureau provided a meal to teachers in one of the largest school districts in the county. During the meal they presented the teachers with Ag in the Classroom materials, information on Farm Bureau and a small appreciation gift.

County Activities of Excellence

Applications are now open for the 2025 County Activities of Excellence. Up to 24 counties will display their winning activities at the 2026 American Farm Bureau Convention in Anaheim, California, in January. County award winners receive up to four free registrations to the Annual Convention (cost of travel and housing not included) and a $4,500 stipend to apply toward the cost of travel and exhibition.

Lilly Stewart was a summer 2025 intern in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Communications and Executive departments. She is a senior in agricultural business at the University of Wyoming.

Read Article on FB.org

By Lilly Stewart

Through its annual County Activities of Excellence Awards, the American Farm Bureau Federation celebrates county Farm Bureaus for their unique, volunteer-driven programming. The counties featured here were recognized for their policy implementation program.

Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake and Trumbull (Ohio) County Farm Bureaus facilitated the Cultivating Strong Futures Conference for farmers, business owners, landowners and rural homeowners. The conference featured workshops on critical topics including alternative energy, nutrient management, farmland preservation, transition planning and farm efficiency through automation. These focus areas and workshops equipped their community members with the knowledge and resources to succeed and safeguard their farms and ranches for future generations.

County Activities of Excellence

Applications are now open for the 2025 County Activities of Excellence. Up to 24 counties will display their winning activities at the 2026 American Farm Bureau Convention in Anaheim, California, in January. County award winners receive up to four free registrations to the Annual Convention (cost of travel and housing not included) and a $4,500 stipend to apply toward the cost of travel and exhibition.

Lilly Stewart is a summer 2025 intern in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Communications and Executive departments. She is a rising senior in agricultural business at the University of Wyoming.

Read Article on FB.org

The County Activities of Excellence program is an American Farm Bureau Federation initiative that celebrates outstanding county Farm Bureau projects – unique, volunteer programming at the local level. Activities are recognized in the areas of Education & Ag Promotion, Member Services, Public Relations & Information, Leadership Development, Policy Implementation and Safety.

Through the program, up to 24 innovative county Farm Bureau activities from across the nation will be selected to display at the 2026 American Farm Bureau Convention and Trade Show in Anaheim, California, Jan. 9-14. Individual county and multicounty CAE winning entries will receive four complimentary registrations and a $4,500 cash award to be used toward travel and display costs to attend the convention.

AFBF is accepting applications from county Farm Bureaus through Sept. 2 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern.

Additional details and the application link can be found here. Winners will be announced the first week of October.

Read Article on FB.org

By Lilly Stewart

Through its annual County Activities of Excellence Awards, the American Farm Bureau Federation celebrates county Farm Bureaus for their unique, volunteer-driven programming. The following counties are being recognized for their programs and activities in 2024. The programs featured here focused on member services.

Bourbon County Farm Bureau Brings Back Family Fun Night

For a night full of old-fashioned family fun, Bourbon County (Kentucky) Farm Bureau brought back the community tradition of Family Fun Night at the county fair. This event allowed the organization to show how much they appreciate their members.

From minute-to-win-it games to a petting zoo, they had it all, thanks to Bourbon County community members who chipped in their time and to community organizations and partners who donated prizes and money for attendees.

Saginaw County Farm Bureau Encourages Cleaning Up Homesteads

Committed to being responsible stewards of the land, Saginaw County (Michigan) Farm Bureau hosted their third farm tire drive in June 2024. The drive encourages members to dispose of old tires from tractors, semis and other farm equipment in an environmentally friendly way. The county Farm Bureau partnered with Environmental Rubber Recycling, a company that provides mechanical assistance at the delivery site for easy and accessible drop off. Farmers could make reservations for time slots and within a two-day period, 43 Farm Bureau member families responsibly disposed of 49,944 pounds of tires.

The event not only helped Farm Bureau members keep their property in tip-top shape, it was an opportunity for the county to engage with members. One farmer even renewed his membership to participate.

Hardin Country Farm Bureau’s Membership Mashup Boosts Member Engagement

Noticing how challenging it was for members to get off the farm for multiple county Farm Bureau events, Hardin County (Ohio) Farm Bureau combined their county membership kick-off, annual meeting and policy dinner into the Membership Mashup event.

They found by doing so they had an overwhelming increase in attendance and quality. From a presentation addressing the evolving power grid to voting on policy, this event covered everything in one fell swoop. The event was so impactful it resulted in new members for the county.

County Activities of Excellence

Applications are now open for the 2025 County Activities of Excellence. Up to 24 counties will display their winning activities at the 2026 American Farm Bureau Convention in Anaheim, California, in January. County award winners receive up to four free registrations to the Annual Convention (cost of travel and housing not included) and a $4,500 stipend to apply toward the cost of travel and exhibition.

Lilly Stewart is a summer 2025 intern in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Communications and Executive departments. She is a rising senior in agricultural business at the University of Wyoming.

Read Article on FB.org

Traveling hundreds – or thousands – of miles to display and sell products at a farmers market is not something that’s done every day. But more than 30 farmers and ranchers did just that during National Farmers Market Week (Aug. 3-8) in our nation’s capital.

USDA hosted the Great American Farmers Market on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to showcase agriculture. Several farmer and rancher Farm Bureau members and state organizations participated.

The event, held daily from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. during the commemorative week, captured the attention of office workers heading for home, tourists and families out for a stroll. Offerings included farm-fresh produce and food, handcrafted goods and specialty items.

Noted Tyson Roberts, a Utah sweet corn, popcorn and garlic grower who participated, “This has been a great opportunity to talk with people here in the nation’s capital about food production. I make my living at farmers markets. I love interacting with people and sharing about where food comes from.”

Chase and Amber Cannady of Florida, owners of North Florida Elderberry, were excited to display their products at the market.

“We’re here to share our story and get the word out about the products we have available,” Chase said. This is their second year of selling elderberry products, primarily in Florida. They’re looking to expand the outlets that sell their products beyond the Sunshine State. The couple does all the work to produce each year’s elderberry crop themselves – everything from planting and pruning to hand harvesting.

Kansas Farm Bureau’s Shop Kansas Farms, which provides direct-to-consumer marketing online, also had a presence at the market. Vistors learned about how farmers in the state sell food that they produce to consumers through a website that is like an online shopping mall.

“It has been wonderful being here,” said Rick McNary, founder of Shop Kansas Farms. “We’ve had steady traffic at the booth with a lot of interest in Kansas-grown products.”

Interested in visiting a farmers market in your local area? USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service connects consumers to producers at over 8,600 farmers markets nationwide through the National Farmers Market Directory at www.usdalocalfoodportal.com.

Read Article on FB.org

From field-to-food bank produce donations and venison harvests to meal packing events and Michigan Farm Bureau Insurance Agent Charitable Fund matching grants, Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) dedication to combating hunger in the state has earned them recognition by the American Farm Bureau Federation for the past several years.

Most recently, MFB took top honors for being the state to raise the most money – $364,800 – to help fight hunger and assist in other community service outreach in 2024 through Farm Bureau’s “Harvest for All” program. MFB’s funding was a significant portion of the total $658,606 raised nationwide.

Matching Grants

According to Michigan Young Farmer Committee member Ben Butcher, the Agent Charitable Fund (ACF) matching grants for county Farm Bureaus are key to increasing the effectiveness of local donations.

“That’s what really sets us apart,” he explained, noting that the grants double the impact of the money collected.

Butcher, who grows alfalfa grass hay in the center of Michigan’s mitten, serves as the committee liaison to the ACF.

From Field to Food Bank

Along with monetary donations, Michigan young (and not so young) farmers donate their excess produce directly to food banks. They also participate in food and meal packing events at food banks across the state.

In a win-win for both a local food bank and farmers struggling with the impacts of deer overpopulation, Kalamazoo County Farm Bureau’s first “Doe Derby” resulted in 71 deer being harvested by volunteer hunters, including Farm Bureau members, processed at cost and donated in the form of 82 boxes full of venison burgers to the Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes Ministries. And once again, monetary support from the ACF was clutch, allowing Farm Bureau to cover the cost of processing the deer.

Raising the Stakes while Raising Money, Donating Food and Volunteering

A little friendly competition goes a long way in spurring action across the state. Each year, the State Young Farmer Committee oversees a contest to recognize county Farm Bureaus at the district level for their Harvest for All efforts.

The district that contributes the most to fighting hunger, determined by pounds of food, volunteer hours, and dollars, is recognized at the state level and given $1,000 to distribute to hunger relief organizations of their choice.

District 11, which includes Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet, Otsego and Presque Isle County Farm Bureaus, won for their efforts and recently made a $1,000 donation to Good Samaritan Family Services in their region.

Members of District 11 logged more than 1,000 hours of volunteer time, donated nearly 24,000 pounds of commodities and food, and generously gave more than $106,000 in 2024.

Harvest for All

Now in its 23rd year, Harvest for All is spearheaded by members of Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers program, but members of all ages from across the nation contribute to the effort.

In 2024, farm and ranch families from across the nation donated 34.8 million pounds of food and raised $658,606 to help fight hunger and assist in other community service outreach through the program. Combined, the monetary and food donations totaled the equivalent of 29 million meals.

Criteria for tracking Harvest for All donations includes dollars and pounds of food donated by state and county Farm Bureaus, as well as volunteer hours, reported from the grassroots up as part of the annual campaign.

Read Article on FB.org

By Lilly Stewart

Through its annual County Activities of Excellence Awards, the American Farm Bureau Federation celebrates county Farm Bureaus for their unique, volunteer-driven programming. The counties featured here were recognized for their education and ag promotion programs.

Berrien County Farm Bureau Connects Farmers and Fair Food

Berrien County (Michigan) Farm Bureau created an interactive straw maze at the county fair for children to discover even delicious fair food comes from the farm. The straw maze included stations where kids learned about the commodities used in the foods. The county Farm Bureau also provided the children a recipe and checked off their visit to the maze with a punch card, which the children could turn in for a prize once it was full. More than 2,800 kids and numerous adults visited the county’s “No Farmer, No Fair Food” display.

Franklin County Farm Bureau Brings Consumers A Farm to Table Experience

Franklin County (Ohio) Farm Bureau partnered with a land grant university farm, hospitality students and meat science team to put together a locally sourced meal for urban and suburban consumers who normally have limited interactions with farming and ranching. Prior to the meal, attendees toured the university farm and participated in a small farmers market. The dinner raised money for the Franklin County Farm Bureau scholarship fund supporting students pursuing careers in agriculture.

Frederick County Farm Bureau Plotting the Farm-to-Stamp Trail

Frederick County (Virginia) Farm Bureau engaged the community in the Farm Explorer Passport Program to increase traffic to farmers markets supporting local farmers. Participants could pick up a free passport from various locations and received stamps for visiting 10 participating farmers markets. Once the passport was full, participants return the completed passport to the county’s visitor center for a special prize.

Habersham County Farm Bureau Hosts Virtual Summer on the Farm Camp

Habersham County (Georgia) Farm Bureau brought the farm to first through fourth grade via virtual tours to explore the realities of farm life. “Summer on the Farm” day camp was a week of learning about agricultural commodities. Each day focused on a different commodity including dairy, poultry, cotton and beef, all items students could relate back to their everyday lives.

Holmes County Farm Bureau Fundraises for Local Food Pantries

Holmes County (Ohio) Farm Bureau partnered with a local agritourism business to host Harvest for Hunger, an event to combat food insecurity in their community. The event offered a cookout-style meal and access to a petting zoo in exchange for donations. Through sponsorships, donations and a live auction, the county Farm Bureau raised $18,000 for four local food pantries.

Leflore County Farm Bureau Hosts Special Needs Livestock Show

To help individuals with special needs and disabilities get involved in the county livestock show, Leflore County (Oklahoma) Farm Bureau hosted the Special Needs Livestock Show. This gave 80 students an opportunity to participate in the show and gain experience with agriculture and livestock donated by local producers.

Livingston County Farm Bureau Promotes Ag Literacy at Library

Livingston County (Missouri) Farm Bureau promoted agriculture literacy in their community with a monthly evening county library event incorporating information and activities related to different agriculture products for children aged 4-10. Each month focused on a different topic, activity and farmer guest speaker.

Mason County Farm Bureau Ag Day Connects Young Students to Agriculture

Mason County (Texas) Farm Bureau hosts an Ag Day for kindergarten through second grade students to highlight some of the many forms of ag production in the United States. The county Farm Bureau offers multiple stations, from watching a farrier trim horses to seeing the inside of a semi tractor-trailer.

Pike County Farm Bureau Connects Individuals with Careers in Agriculture

Pike County (Ohio) Farm Bureau’s Ag Career Connections events have shared careers in agriculture with more than 900 people ranging from third graders to older adults. At the events, Pike County Farm Bureau introduces 10 career pathways and occupations included in each path, providing information about the levels of education required and the potential salary. 

Rogers County Farm Bureau Teaches the Roots of Food

Rogers County (Oklahoma) Farm Bureau hosted a creative contest to get kids learning about how their food is produced. The contest replicated the real-world process of feeding and caring for animals that will be used for consumption. Participants were taught where to buy animals, what to feed them and optimal weights for the contest. After feeding the animal for 120 days the animal was butchered and graded. From there, participants were scored in the animal’s rate of daily gain and carcass merit. Students loved the hands-on opportunity to be involved in production agriculture.

Titus County Farm Bureau Reads Ag Books to Kids

Titus County (Texas) Farm Bureau board members read “Barn at Night” by Michelle Houts to students at seven elementary schools in the county. The board members interacted with the students, teaching them about farms and agriculture. After reading the book, the county Farm Bureau donated them to the school library.

Woodford County Farm Bureau Ropes Youth into Agriculture with Rodeo

Over 2,500 attendees came to Woodford County (Kentucky) Farm Bureau’s first rodeo, teaching community members about the sport, increasing funds for philanthropic initiatives and member support, providing opportunities for kids to learn about ag and for the county Farm Bureau to grow its social media pages.

County Activities of Excellence

Applications are now open for the 2025 County Activities of Excellence. Up to 24 counties will display their winning activities at the 2026 American Farm Bureau Convention in Anaheim, California, in January. County award winners receive up to four free registrations to the Annual Convention (cost of travel and housing not included) and a $4,500 stipend to apply toward the cost of travel and exhibition.

Lilly Stewart is a summer 2025 intern in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Communications and Executive departments. She is a rising senior in agricultural business at the University of Wyoming.

Read Article on FB.org