Youth & Young Farmers - Farm Bureau Young Farmer Programs
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GROWMARK, Inc. assists with state Farm Bureau programs in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin.

Discussion Meet
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) identifies four questions for discussion. The competition encourages young producers to learn current agricultural issues and to develop their ability to discuss them effectively.

Local participants qualify for state competition. The winner in each state competes on the national level at the AFBF annual meeting.

Achievement Award Program
The Farm Bureau Young Farmer Achievement Award program requires a written application. The application asks for a record of community and Farm Bureau involvement and progress in the young producer’s farming operation over the years.

The award application helps applicants review their goals and accomplishments and to set goals for the future.

Young Farmer State Conference
The Farm Bureau Young Farmer State Committee develops an annual statewide conference. The purpose is to learn from the program and to bring together individuals with similar interests for an exchange of ideas.

Young Farmer Leadership Conference
Contact: Melissa Brooks, Leadership Programs Coordinator
mbrooks@ifbf.org
515-225-5425
Iowa Farm Bureau Federation

Young Leader Conference
Contact: Jennifer Smith, Young Leader Manager
jsmith@ilfb.org
309-557-2536
Illinois Farm Bureau

Young Farmer Getaway Conference
Contact: Dale Beaty, Director, Training & Leadership Development
dbeaty@wfbf.com
608-828-5714
Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation

Excellence in Agriculture Award Program
The Excellence in Agriculture Program is an application and PowerPoint presentation designed to commend those with outstanding leadership skills. The award is based on community involvement, Farm Bureau participation, and development of agricultural leadership skills.

Other Programs

Young Farmers to Washington
A Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation program for young farmer program award winners. GROWMARK assists with the cost of this program.

Young Farmer Marketing Tour
An Iowa Farm Bureau Federation bus trip to the Chicago Board of Trade and other areas of interest.

Marketing Tour
An Illinois Farm Bureau program to a different location each year.

Agricultural Leaders of Tomorrow (ALOT)
An Illinois Farm Bureau program to develop agricultural leaders. It is conducted in a different part of the state each winter. For information, contact Steve Gannaway, Illinois Farm Bureau Training and Development at 309-557-3943 or gannaway@ilfb.org.