Be An Advocacy Hero With Your Policy

Now, as a grassroots organization, you have developed the policy for the coming year, but where do you go from here?  It is you, the member, that can set the pace for agriculture and become an advocate to make your voice heard. In fact, your Illinois Farm Bureau policy #86, Involvement of Members in Farm Bureau, provides you with some guidance to start:

We believe the county Farm Bureaus are the strength of the Illinois Agricultural Association.  We recognize that county Farm Bureaus are important to the individual members and it is these individual members that become the most integral parts of the Illinois Agricultural Association.  The support and direction of the individual members are of utmost importance to the organization.

The thinking, direction and support of all members are needed in our organization.  We urge active involvement of men and women of all ages in the committee structure on the state and county level.  We will continue efforts to strengthen county and state member programs to enhance the value of Farm Bureau membership.

We especially urge county Farm Bureaus to appoint at least one member of the Women's and Young Farmer/Young Leader Committees to serve on county Farm Bureau standing committees.  The representatives of each county committee should meet regularly with their Board of Directors.

We encourage county Farm Bureaus to present opportunities for active members to gain the background and experience necessary to be effective leaders.  These future leaders will then become spokespersons for Illinois Agricultural Association and county Farm Bureaus and the greatest industry in the world-agriculture.

The Young Farmer/Young Leader Committee is important in assuring the maximum opportunity for young farmers to participate in Farm Bureau programs.

Counties are encouraged to follow the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Young Farmer and Rancher program age limits so that county Young Farmer and Young Leader Committees will be eligible for the Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) Young Leader and AFBF Young Leader and Rancher programs.

It is not hard.  All it takes is a little basic training. Attend the Illinois Farm Bureau Governmental Affairs Leadership Conference February 29-March 1 to learn more about your policies and your role as an advocate. Learn what issues to take aim at, how to scale the obstacles between you and your elected officials, and how to mobilize your team for victory. In other words, you'll learn how to be all that you can be.