American Farm Bureau Convention Sunday Recap: President Zippy Duvall Highlights Opportunities, Challenges in 2022, Distinguished Service and Founders Awards, Farm Dog of the Year and More

The American Farm Bureau Convention continued today with a full day of keynote addresses, workshops and awards.

AFBF President Zippy Duvall opened the convention with an inspirational address in which he discussed the organization’s successes in 2021 and priorities for 2022.

“Through even the greatest challenges, we never waver in growing the safest, most sustainable food, fuel and fiber in the world. And Farm Bureau remains true to our purpose – to be that one, United Voice of Agriculture,” Duvall said. “I believe with all my heart that there is reason to be optimistic.”

A recording of the address is available here.

Former Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue was recognized with the Distinguished Service Award. Terry Gilbert was honored with the Farm Bureau Founders Award. More information is available here.

A Border Collie from Florida, “Fit,” was named the 2022 Farm Dog of the Year. “How to Grow a Monster” by Kiki Thorpe was named the Foundation for Agriculture’s 2022 Book of the Year.

Additionally, several state Farm Bureaus were recognized for exemplary financial support of the Foundation and Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine and Montana Farm Bureaus earned the Pinnacle Award, the highest honor a state Farm Bureau can be awarded for program and membership achievement. The New Horizon Award was given to six state Farm Bureaus and 34 states were recognized with Awards of Excellence. Learn more here.

Workshop topics included impacting change by mobilizing the conversation around mental health, successful stories on influencing and advocating for agriculture, the trade outlook for 2022, a town hall discussion with several members of the ag media and a roundtable discussion from the AFBF Public Policy team.

From issues related to Waters of the U.S. and the tax code to recent announcements from the Biden administration related to meat processing and more, hear from the AFBF public policy team here.

“All farmers will hit a wall at some point, and we have to reach out for help,” said panelist JEB Wilson, a fifth-generation farmer in Lowrys, South Carolina, during the “Mobilizing the Conversation Around Mental Health” workshop. “Even if you don’t call a hotline, reach out to your friends and family members – the people who care about you.”

Additional workshop recordings are available on the convention virtual platform:

The Power of Engagement: Influencing and Advocating: Hear successful stories on engaging and advocating for agriculture through social media. Learn how ag influencers use online platforms to tell their story and connect with consumers about where their food comes from.

Trade and American Agriculture: Stability or Turmoil Ahead?: U.S. farmers and ranchers are critical to agricultural trade. This workshop covered the benefits and challenges of the current international trade environment and the role of American agriculture. The administration’s positions on trade issues and agreements were also reviewed.

Ag Media Town Hall: Top Issues in Agriculture: Reporters covering the ag space joined to discuss the hottest issues in agriculture.

Monday Preview

Tomorrow’s hallmark events include the closing general session featuring remarks from Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and comedian Jeff Allen. YF&R award winners will also be announced, as well as the 2022 Ag Innovation Challenge winner, runner-up and People’s Choice Award.

A full slate of workshops is also offered tomorrow. Among them, AFBF economists will discuss the 2022 outlook for U.S. crop and livestock production, how the current political landscape could affect farm policy and the many factors that will influence U.S. farm profitability in the coming year.

Virtual registration remains open throughout convention. The full schedule and virtual registration information can all be found at annualconvention.fb.org.