Nine farmers will represent the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) during the voting delegate session of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) 104th annual convention Jan. 6-11 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The delegates will join their counterparts from across the United States to draft language on resolutions developed from grassroots efforts in each state, to guide Farm Bureau’s national policy efforts in 2023.

Iowa’s 2023 delegation will include IFBF President Brent Johnson of Calhoun County, IFBF Vice President Brian Feldpausch of Grundy County, District 4 Director Sharyl Bruning of Monona County, Internal Study Committee Chair Darrick Hall of Jones County, Deanna Brennecke of Decatur County, Craig Recker of Dubuque County, Chris Prizler of Iowa County, Brian Borcherding of Franklin County and Brent Lorimor of Fremont County.

Young farmer contests

Mi Familia is the theme for this year’s AFBF convention, which will feature a variety of workshops and contests including the popular Ag Innovation Challenge, Young Farmer Discussion Meet and Excellence in Ag competition. 

Representing Iowa in the AFBF Young Farmer Discussion Meet will be Worth County’s Marena Henkle, who won the contest at Iowa Farm Bureau’s annual meeting in Des Moines last month. Contestants are judged on cooperative attitude, problem solving, delivery and analysis of topic.

Melissa Moretz of Worth County will represent Iowa in the AFBF Excellence in Agriculture competition. The Excellence in Agriculture Award spotlights young Farm Bureau members who are agricultural enthusiasts but haven’t earned a majority of their income from an owned production agriculture enterprise in the past three years. Competitors are evaluated on their understanding of agricultural issues, leadership experiences and achievement, and their ability to communicate their agricultural story. Moretz was one of the winners of the Iowa Farm Bureau’s 2022 Young Farmer Leadership Award. 

Ag innovation challenge

Two Iowa companies will compete in the Ag Innovation Challenge. 

They are ReEnvision Ag, with CEO Jayson Ryner of Nora Springs highlighting his dibble-style planting system as an alternative to current planters that use double-disc openers to create a seed trench, and ChopLocal, with CEO Katie Olthoff, featuring the company’s online marketplace that makes it easy for farmers and butchers to connect with modern meat eaters.

Watch online

Convention attendees will get the opportunity to hear from AFBF President Zippy Duvall as well as keynote speaker Bert Jacobs, co-founder of Life is Good, which spreads the power of optimism through inspiring art, a passionate community and groundbreaking nonprofit work.

Can’t make it to the convention in person? Farm Bureau members can catch some of the conference sessions on AFBF’s virtual convention platform. 

Head to https://annualconvention.fb.org/virtual to register, and watch a number of workshops and programs.