Celebrating the Heartbeat of Farm Bureau, County Presidents

Over this past year, I dedicated extra time to celebrating our county presidents because they are the very heartbeat of our mighty federation. Of course, it takes all of us working together across agriculture and across Farm Bureau—from the local, state, and national level—to ensure a brighter future for our farms, ranches and rural communities. But county presidents don’t often step into the spotlight. Our state and national leaders and staff all know how hard our local leaders and volunteers work though. That’s why I declared this past year: “The Year of the County President.”

I have traveled to visit with county leaders across the country and hosted a special set of virtual townhall meetings just for our county presidents. We capped off this celebration at the 2025 American Farm Bureau Convention in San Antonio in January. We hosted a special gathering for county presidents at the convention, and spotlighted local leaders from across the country.

Having an impact and making a real difference begins at the local level. Farm Bureau is the trusted Voice of Agriculture and the leading grassroots membership organization advocating for all farmers, ranchers and rural communities, and our county leaders are leading the way in their communities. I’ve had the privilege of seeing firsthand some of the remarkable things happening across our country, driven by our county Farm Bureaus.

I shared just a few examples of what this leadership looks like during our opening session at the convention in San Antonio, and I’d love to share these stories with our entire Farm Bureau family. Keep in mind, these are just a few of the thousands of stories we could share, and I hope these stories will inspire you and encourage you to lift up the work your county leaders are doing every day.

In the Southern region, Megan DeHart from Mercer County, Kentucky, took her county to new heights with a social media campaign, #365DaysOfMercerCountyAg. Every day they showcased the faces and families behind local agriculture. The campaign was a big success and helped members of the community feel closer to farmers just down the road. Megan also found a way to connect Farm Bureau to underserved populations. She planted gardens at local rehab facilities and retirement homes to bring the joy of farming to those who couldn’t come to the farm.

In the Northeast, Stewart Ramsey of New Castle County, Delaware, is a driving force for agriculture. He led efforts to reduce property taxes on farm structures, saving farmers thousands of dollars, and he is investing in the next generation. Stewart coordinates with local school districts to bring students to his farm to learn where their food comes from. On top of all that, he has found creative ways to connect his urban neighbors with local agriculture. New Castle County Farm Bureau hosts community events like a Milk Run 5K and a Beef and Beer Fundraiser, which raised more than $15,000 last year.

In the Midwest, Heather Mentzer of Allen County, Kansas, has been on a mission to refocus her county’s advocacy and membership efforts. She created a survey to get input from her members on state-wide issues and successfully drew them in to be more actively engaged. Heather also organized a County Legislative Coffee to connect farmers with state legislators, leading to many other conversations and meetings. She has also reached beyond her fencerows, joining with other community organizations to become a force for good. Under Heather’s leadership, Allen County Farm Bureau sponsored events to strengthen mental wellness and ensure no one feels alone.

Out in the West, Mark Lopez from Orange County, California, is the mastermind behind a transformative effort in his community. He led his county Farm Bureau to create nine farmers markets to bring fresh produce to several communities. Orange County Farm Bureau has donated over $3 million to local youth ag education programs. They have also set up several educational scholarships and donated another $100,000 to their local FFA chapter. That’s millions of dollars raised by one county Farm Bureau and invested in the community.

These leaders—along with all our county presidents—inspire me, and I hope they inspire you too. I hope you’ll join me in applauding our county presidents year-round for how they are stepping up from sea to shining sea to drive Farm Bureau forward as the premier organization in their communities.