Stay Informed

Indiana Farm Bureau delegates met via Zoom to determine the policy positions of the organization for 2021.

The delegate body consisted of 233 farmers and agribusiness professionals from across the state. During the session, which was held Aug. 29, members discussed issues that included permitting, broadband, transportation and infrastructure, the impact of COVID-19 and the ag economy.

“Agriculture doesn’t stop, even in a pandemic, so it’s important for INFB to come together to create policy positions for issues affecting agriculture and rural communities,” said Randy Kron, INFB president. “Conducting this meeting virtually was new for all of us, but it was important because our grassroots policy process is vital to the advocacy work we do year-round.”

Because of the pandemic, there were many issues brought to the forefront that significantly impacted the agriculture industry and were the focus of many of the policy discussions.

“As INFB members prepare for the next legislative session, many of the conversations we will have with lawmakers are issues surrounding rural broadband, livestock processing and supply chain,” said Andy Tauer, INFB’s director of public policy. “The pandemic really highlighted those issues and the impact they can have on the success of farmers and rural Indiana as well as Hoosiers’ access to food. We will continue to work with lawmakers and other stakeholders to address these issues.”

Delegates also voted on members who would represent INFB at the 2021 American Farm Bureau Federation Convention. The AFBF Convention will be held in January. The chosen INFB delegates will be discussing policy positions for the national organization with representatives from all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Four county Farm Bureau presidents were elected as delegates for the AFBF Convention:

• David Brenner, Vanderburgh County.
• Hayley Clark, Shelby County.
• Michael Holman, Steuben County.
• Paul Jacobs, Huntington County.