Only workshops that have been fully contracted appear on this page. Please check back for updates as more amazing workshops are added to the list!

 

Innovative Approaches for Telling the Story of Agriculture
Emma Alexander, Outreach Specialist for Missouri Farmers Care
The voice of American agriculture rises from only 2% of our national population who reside on farms and ranches and every farm story is a valuable part of the whole narrative of agriculture. Through study and application of communication tactics and innovative approaches, our stories can become even more powerful and not become lost or hard to hear. We can share dynamic, persuasive stories that stick. The strategies shared in this session will guide you as you develop your own craft of storytelling to resonate with any audience you want to connect with.

 

Protecting Our Future, Preserving our Heritage 
Gary Spires, Executive Director at South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation 
SC is the fastest growing state in the nation and farmland was being lost at an alarming rate. South Carolina Farm Bureau members set in motion the idea for a land trust. In 2023, South Carolina Farm Bureau held the first organizational meeting of the SCFB Land Trust. The SCFB Land Trust focuses specifically on protecting working farms, ranches and forests. Working with Conservation Banks around the state, the Land Trust is able to protect our farmers' most precious resource. This session will provide an overview of the how the SCFB Land Trust was established, using the existing Farm Bureau network to generate support, and ways other states can consider starting a Land Trust. 

 

Hosting Farm Tours: Educating Consumers and Legislators
AFBF P&E and WLC Committees
In this interactive session, attendees will learn how to design and host engaging farm tours that effectively educate both everyday consumers and key policymakers. Whether you're looking to connect with local communities or influence legislative support, this session will provide practical tips and strategies for tailoring your message to diverse audiences. By the end of the session, participants will be equipped with the tools to host successful farm tours that inform, inspire and build stronger connections with both the public and decision-makers.

 

Changing Minds: Becoming a Better Listener Can Change Your Farm, Family and Future 
Vance Crowe, Founder of Legacy Interviews 
This session is designed for individuals grappling with the emotional aspects of farm succession conversations, rather than focusing on legal or technical matters. Storytelling plays a crucial role in preserving wisdom for future generations and helping the aging generation find closure and acceptance in their experiences. Drawing from Vance's insights gained from recording hundreds of Legacy Interviews, this session will teach you how to engage loved ones and prompt them to share their life stories. By sharing their experiences, older individuals often realize they have entered a phase of wisdom, making them more open to discussing succession and change on the farm. 

 

Creative Farm & Income Diversification
Panel of Farmers with Diverse Operations
In this session, a panel of farmers will discuss various ways to diversify income to assist in growing your farm business. Discover creative diversification strategies that go beyond traditional farming, like incorporating agritourism, an Airbnb or on-farm food options like a kitchen or bar.

 

Optimize Your Grocery List for Better Mental Health, Happier Farms and Volunteer Retention 
Sarah Zastrow, Farm Stress Speaker, Nutrition Professor and Farmer

 

Cultivating Well-Being: ‘Addressing Mental Health in the Next Generation of Farmers’ 
Kyle Lechtenburg, Finanical Advisor with Foundation Wealth Advisors 
YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Farming is hard. Extreme weather, family trust issues, low prices, high debt, workplace accidents; I have experienced it all and have the scars to prove it. I will share real stories and examples of how pre-existing situations can hinder growth, as well as strategic steps to help with TRANSITION personally and professionally. You will learn a PLANNED method of overcoming mental health challenges as it relates to debt, staffing, and macroeconomics of the farming operation.

 

Building Membership from the Ground Up 
Jocelyn Anderson, California Fourth Generation Farmer and Former AFBF YF&R Vice Chair & Jon Iverson, Oregon Farmer & Former AFBF YF&R Chair 
Membership is the life blood of Farm Bureau but how do you maintain it, let alone increase it? Led by the 2021 AFBF YF&R Committee Chair Jon Iverson (Oregon) and Vice Chair Jocelyn Anderson (California), this interactive session will focus on ideas to attract new members and lead meetings to keep members engaged. 

 

Whose Fence Line Is It Anyway? Improv in Advocacy
Bev Flatt, AFBF YF&R Committee
Have you ever tried telling a story at a party, but it just…fizzled? Maybe you stumbled over your words, or the audience just seemed….unimpressed. Well, fret no more! This workshop, is designed to turn you from a storytelling dud to a captivating conversationalist. And how are we going to achieve this magical transformation? Through the unexpected world of spontaneous comms – or improv - of course.

 

Dear Farmer: I Want to Start A Column 
Jackie Mundt, Paula Peterson, Renee McPherson, Heather Lifsey 
We know you've heard of columns like Dear Abby but there are lots of other columns that cover a variety of topics. Starting a regular agriculture column is a great way to build credibility and engage long-term with readers. This session brings together four experienced ag columnists and GO Team members to share how they got started, what to write about and how they deal with feedback from the column. 

 

Farm Bureau Success Stories Panel
Panel of Farmers From All Program Areas
Are you wondering if you should get more involved with Farm Bureau? Are you already involved but don't know what the next step is for you? Join us for a panel discussion featuring members who have taken advantage of Farm Bureau programs. Learn about their experiences, leadership journey and tips for how to stay involved.

 

Purposeful Consumer Conversations: How to Host an “Ask a Farmer” Event
Members of the AFBF P&E Committee
In this session, participants will learn how to set up several options for hosting “Ask a Farmer” events. Through engagements at farmers markets, farm to table events and grocery stores, we can help reinforce the consumer’s commitment to agriculture and the community. At “Ask a Farmer” events, customers get to meet the people behind their favorite products, reinforcing the idea that agriculture supports the economy and that the people growing their food share values with those who are eating it.  

 

Campus Conversations: How to Navigate Tough Topics in College 
Samantha Beard, Assistant Director of Special Programs at Tennessee Farm Bureau 
During this session, participants will arm themselves with tools to better communicate and conversate about food, fiber and agriculture practices. Perspective: Through an icebreaker, students will share stories related to agricultural controversies in small groups. We will discuss the spectrum of public perception to better understand how to communicate. Echo Chamber: Today’s information flows from a myriad of sources; understanding these sources in the echo chamber is key. Students will learn ways to become the experts on campus and in their communities. Conversate: Advocating and educating about agriculture is a lifestyle. Students will be equipped with tools to agvocate daily.  

 

‘What Toys Can I Buy?’ Financial Planning Around Long Term Purchases Versus Family Living Needs 
Kyle Lechtenburg, Financial Advisor with Foundation Wealth Advisors 
This session is designed in two parts: The first segment focuses on family and farm business. In business, we call this concept capital decisions versus operational decisions. I will define the difference, explain why it matters and go through parameters to help you make business decisions within your farm that address long-term strategy as well as meeting current operational needs. The second part focuses on family concepts with similar metrics but different stakeholders (i.e. family members). 

 

Engaging Community Through Direct-to-Consumer Marketing 
Rick McNary, Founder of Shop Kansas Farms 
The key to successful direct-to-consumer sales of farm products is being able to control the supply chain of production, processing and distribution. This supply chain is known as a regional food system which we call a Harvest Hub. The Shop Kansas Farms Harvest Hub model has successfully started building the Border Queen Harvest Hub in south central Kansas and north central Oklahoma. The model is designed to be replicated and scaled nationally. Learn from the people who built it from the ground up with a vision for economic growth, the ability for area farmers and ranchers to diversify their businesses, while providing healthy, local food for the community as they engage and educate consumer.