Rep. Dusty Johnson Receives Outstanding New Member of Congress Award

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) today presented Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) with the Outstanding New Member of Congress Award. This award recognizes a member of Congress who was recently elected and has already proven to be a reliable partner for agriculture.

“It is an honor to present the Outstanding New Member of Congress Award to Congressman Johnson,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “Despite spending over half of his congressional tenure battling the COVID-19 pandemic, Congressman Johnson has already made a tremendous impact on agriculture.”

Congressman Johnson has been a leader on several key issues facing farmers and ranchers, including renewable fuels, livestock marketing and ensuring agriculture can recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Congressman Johnson was the first member of the House of Representatives to request that agriculture and food processing workers be considered essential workers during the pandemic,” Duvall said. “He then led the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus to develop a framework for COVID relief funds that included $25 billion for agriculture, which many prominent organizations and congressional leaders applauded.”

SDFB nominated Johnson for the award in honor of his service to rural America in Washington, D.C., since he was elected to the House of Representatives in 2018.

AFBF Vice President and SDFB President Scott VanderWal said, “Congressman Johnson is a tireless and passionate advocate for agriculture and other issues in rural America. In his first two years in Congress, he has always sought out the opinions of farmers and ranchers in South Dakota and has been a leader on several key issues impacting the day-to-day life of all in agriculture. His dedication to agriculture and rural communities makes him extremely deserving of this award.”

AFBF’s Outstanding New Member of Congress Award recognizes new members of Congress who exemplify agricultural leadership and support of Farm Bureau policies. Recipients are chosen for having a philosophy or record that demonstrates a commitment to sound agricultural policies supported by Farm Bureau, the private enterprise system, fiscal conservatism and reduced federal regulation of businesses and individuals.