Young Farmer Program
Welcome to Iowa Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer Program!
We connect young farmers from across Iowa to learn, grow, and lead together. Our members (ages 18 to 35) are full- or part-time farmers, work in the agriculture industry, want to get more involved in agriculture, or are simply passionate about agriculture.
This program offers leadership and networking opportunities that help you build strong connections and play an active role in both Farm Bureau and the agricultural community. Through conferences, educational events, and recognition programs, you’ll gain access to cutting-edge information, celebrate achievements, and continue your professional and personal growth.
Stay connected:
- Facebook: Iowa Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer Program
- Instagram: @iowayoungfarmers
Get involved locally:
Join your District Facebook page to connect with your Young Farmer Advisory Committee representative:
- Northeast Iowa Young Farmers (Iowa Farm Bureau District 1) - Allamakee, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Howard, Winneshiek
- North Iowa Young Farmers (Iowa Farm Bureau District 2) - Butler, Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Franklin, Hancock, Humboldt, Kossuth, Mitchell, Winnebago, Worth, Wright
- District 3 Young Farmers - Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Sioux
- Western Iowa Young Farmers (Iowa Farm Bureau District 4) - Audubon, Calhoun, Carroll, Crawford, Guthrie, Harrison, Ida, Monona, Sac, Shelby, Woodbury
- Iowa Farm Bureau Central District 5 Young Farmers - Boone, Dallas, Greene, Grundy, Hamilton, Hardin, Jasper, Marshall, Polk, Story, Webster
- Eastern Iowa Young Farmers (Iowa Farm Bureau District 6) - Benton, Cedar, Clinton, Iowa, Jackson, Johnson, Jones, Linn, Poweshiek, Scott, Tama
- Southeast Iowa Young Farmers (Iowa Farm Bureau District 7) - Davis, Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lee, Louisa, Muscatine, Van Buren, Wapello, Washington
- South Central Iowa Young Farmers (Iowa Farm Bureau District 8) - Appanoose, Clarke, Decatur, Lucas, Madison, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Warren, Wayne
- Southwest Iowa Young Farmers (Iowa Farm Bureau District 9) - Adair, Adams, Cass, Fremont, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Taylor, Union
Save the Date! – 2027 Young Farmer Conference
January 22-23, 2027 at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center - Downtown Des Moines
This conference is a great opportunity to reconnect with friends and peers, make new connections, network, and learn from professionals in the agriculture industry – while still having a bit of fun too! You’ll have an opportunity to learn about cutting-edge technologies, new ag opportunities, sustainability practices and financial management techniques to help you grow and succeed on your farms through a variety of breakout sessions.
Registration opens December 1, 2026 through your local County Farm Bureau.
2026 Winner - Natalie Paino of Hightail, Bremer County
Grow Your Future Award
Iowa Farm Bureau’s Grow Your Future award started with a singular mission to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit of young farmers and encourage the development and growth of ag-related endeavors.
If you’re a young Iowa entrepreneur with an innovative ag-related business – this award is for you. Apply for a chance to win a cash prize up to $10,000.
The application period has closed. Applications for the 2027 Award will reopen in May 2026.
LEARN MORE & APPLY
Congratulations to the 2026 winners!
First Place – Natalie Paino of Hightail, Bremer County
Second Place – Rachel Irwin of Bushels and Blooms, Wapello County
Third Place – Jennifer Twaiten-Kraninger of Little Sioux Stems, Dickinson County
YF Leadership Award (Honoring Bob Joslin)
This award is an opportunity for young farmers who are actively contributing and growing through their involvement in Farm Bureau and agriculture to earn recognition. County Farm Bureaus nominate deserving young leaders, and participants are judged on leadership experience and involvement within Farm Bureau, their community, and other agriculture organizations. Learn more here.
2026 Young Farmer Leadership Award nominations are due April 10.
Prizes
The three winners each receive:
- A $2,000 grant to a local organization of the winner‘s choice
- $1,500 cash award from GROWMARK
- $500 cash award from Iowa Farm Bureau
- Expense paid trip to the 2027 AFBF Annual Convention in Charlotte, NC January 8–12, 2027 or 2027 AFBF YF&R Conference in TBD March 2027
- Expense paid trip to the 2027 IFBF Young Farmer Conference January 22-23, 2027
- Video highlighting winner’s leadership and involvement.
Three winners of the Young Farmer Leadership Award will be honored at the Iowa Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Des Moines December 8-9, 2026.
2025 Winners:
Blake Anderson - Adams County
Devon Murray - Floyd County
Randall Francois - Buchanan County
2025 Winner – Keaton Keitzer, Des Moines County
Discussion Meet
The Discussion Meet is a competitive event that helps young farmers build discussion skills, develop a keen understanding of important ag issues, and explore how groups can pool knowledge to reach a consensus and solve problems. Individuals compete on a panel of three to six people in a free-wheeling style, as if they were sitting around the kitchen table discussing a problem. They exchange ideas and information to solve the problem. Each contestant is judged on cooperative attitude, problem solving & implementation, delivery, and analysis of the topic.
Congratulations to the 2025 Discussion Meet Final Four:
First Place – Keaton Keitzer, Des Moines County
Second Place – Molly Dolch, Adair County
Third Place – Coltin Schachtner Kramer, Pocahontas County
Fourth Place – Alyssa Yoder McClary, Iowa County
The 2026 Discussion Meet competition (sponsored by GROWMARK and Iowa Farm Bureau) took place at the 2026 Young Farmer Conference on Saturday, January 24.
Congratulations to the 2026 Discussion Meet Semi-Finalists:
Olivia Marti, Allamakee County
Lauren Britton, Boone County
Harvard Williams, Clay County
Megan Baumgartner, Fayette County
Jacob Smith, Fremont County
Cale Gent, Hancock County
Jarret Horn, Jasper County
Coltin Schachtner Kramer, Pocahontas County
Mitchell Hora, Washington County
Peyton Pangburn, Worth County
Semi-finalists receive coaching throughout the year to prepare for the final rounds held during the Iowa Farm Bureau Annual Meeting & County Leadership Conference December 8, 2026 in Des Moines. Prizes are awarded to the top four state finishers. The Iowa winner will advance to the national Young Farmer Discussion Meet at the 2027 American Farm Bureau Annual Convention in Charlotte, NC.
Young Farmer Advisory Committee
Contact your district representative for more information on Young Farmer activities in your area.2025-2026 Executive Committee:
Chair: Michael McEnany, Story County
Vice-Chair: Tyler Woodward, Fremont County
Secretary: Abby Woodward, Fremont County
Public Relations Co-Chairs: Tim Cohoon, Sac County & Ashley McEnany, Story County
CONTACT YOUR DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE
Young Farmer Committee Spotlight
Meet some of Iowa’s young farm families who are part of our Young Farmer Advisory Committee.Devin & Meghan Brincks
Tanner Brass
Bryan & Crystal Schroeder
Tim and Nicole Cohoon
Michael and Ashley McEnany
Joris and Katherine Boelen
Matt and Hilary Lanman
Lucas & Bethany De Bruin
Tyler and Abby Woodward
Contact Info:
To learn more about Young Farmer programs and activities, contact Leadership Training Manager Molly Shanahan.