Organizational Member Strategy (OMS)

IFB selected Aimpoint Research to evaluate and recommend a strategic framework for IFB and county Farm Bureaus to consider. Specifically, IFB asked Aimpoint to:

- Evaluate IFB's and county Farm Bureaus’ membership models in light of current trends, demographics, and member needs.

- Recommend ways to align IFB’s organizational priorities and programs with what members value.

Aimpoint presents its report virtually to IFB and county Farm Bureau leaders and staff.

IFB announces several management and structural changes, including the naming of our first Chief Strategy Officer. This position will lead the Organizational Member Strategy (OMS), effective August 2023.

IFB distributes Aimpoint’s final report to county Farm Bureaus, which includes four pillars of a strategic framework. 

A coalition of young farmers present to the IAA Board opportunities to provide more value to “members in the middle,” or those who have aged out of the Young Leaders Program. Concepts will be considered as a part of the OMS.

IFB engages county Farm Bureau managers at the IFB Managers Conference. Managers provide insight into data needs and priority areas of action for the OMS team.

Past President Guebert solicits applications for state and county farmer-leaders, Young Leaders, and county Farm Bureau managers to participate in the OMS Advisory Committee.

The OMS Advisory Committee and Staff Team are named. The Advisory Committee includes the President, Vice-President, four IFB Directors, four County Farm Bureau Presidents, four County Farm Bureau Managers, and two Young Leaders. The Staff team consists of the Chief Strategy Officer and six staff team members representing all areas of IFB. 

The OMS Advisory Committee convenes for its first meeting.

IFB engages county Farm Bureau presidents at the IFB Presidents Conference. County presidents provide their insight into data needs, the best ways to deliver information to members, and priority areas of action.

After going through a process similar to the OMS, Ohio Farm Bureau shares information on its strategy with the Advisory Committee.

The OMS Advisory Committee defines its “Why” statement:

We are seeing:

- Continued decline in membership,

- Fewer and different types of farmers in the future with different needs and expectations,

- The need to serve farmers at all stages of their careers,

- Resource inconsistencies and concern over the development of future revenue streams (CFB finances),

- Changing member and employee preferences on how to deliver services differently, through both staffing and structure, and

- A need for better stewardship of current and future volunteer leaders.

Therefore, County Farm Bureaus and Illinois Farm Bureau must work together with a sense of urgency and take intentional steps to reinvent the organization over the coming years to maintain relevancy for farmers of the future while ensuring the advocacy and engagement needs of all members are being delivered as efficiently and effectively as possible.

IFB engages and gathers input from members at the IAA Annual Meeting through focus groups, a microtalk, and an address to delegates.

Mark Gebhards Remarks about OMS at 2023 Annual Meeting. 

New IFB President Brian Duncan assumes role as chair of the OMS Advisory Committee.

CFB Managers participate in a questionnaire about areas of opportunity. 

OMS launched a member survey and embarked on a season-long series of focus groups. OMS staff traveled to events across the state, including the Everything Local, Young Leader, and Governmental Affairs Leadership conferences. The survey, of IFB voting and professional members, remained open until March.

OMS announces it will be organizing subcommittees. These subcommittees will focus on the topics of programming and engagement, county Farm Bureaus, and membership. These subcommittees will run for four months in length. They will run from May 2024 until September 2024. OMS received subcommittee applications from members in 42 counties across the state!

Subcommittee members were selected by President Duncan and were notified of their selection to the subcommittee. Subcommittees began meeting to discuss their thoughts for the organization's future on the topics of membership, county Farm Bureaus, and programming and engagement.

Subcommittees met multiple times a month discussing ideas on the future of Illinois Farm Bureau's membership, potential programming and engagement events, and ways to help county Farm Bureaus thrive in the future.