Stay Informed

Policy development goes on in one form or another throughout the year at Indiana Farm Bureau, but now is the time when the process kicks into high gear.

This winter and spring, county Farm Bureaus met to discuss policy, as have other key groups, such as the INFB policy advisory groups.

A new component of the policy development process this year is an initiative that encouraged counties to submit up to three priority policies.

“Establishing our policy priorities for INFB is really one of the most important things we do,” said INFB Vice President Kendell Culp. “It sets a foundation that we can use as we advocate for legislation that’s important to our members.”

All 92 counties participated in the policy development process this year, said Jesse Cordray, public policy project manager for INFB. The public policy team will be working during June and July to collate the submissions and prepare them for the resolutions committee meeting in July.

“What’s unique about Farm Bureau is that it all originates at the local level. It really all starts with the individual member,” Culp said.

The resolutions committee will meet at the INFB home office July 16 and 17. Made up of 15 Farm Bureau members and chaired by Culp, the committee will review all the policy recommendations to determine which will be considered by the full delegate body during the INFB delegate session. 

“We anticipate much of the discussions to center on water, taxes and land use,” Cordray added.

The delegate session will take place on Saturday, Aug. 17, at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds. Each county will be represented by voting delegates, the number of which is determined by the size of the county’s membership numbers. During the session, voting delegates will vote on INFB’s 2025 policy priorities and craft Indiana’s recommendations for changes to American Farm Bureau Federation policy.

“INFB truly believes this process lets us feel the pulse of our members,” Culp added.

Information on the 2024 INFB delegate session can be found at www.infb.org/events.