CHICAGO – American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall delivered an inspiring address during the Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) annual meeting, scheduled Dec. 4-7 at the Palmer House in Chicago.

In a 30-minute speech, Duvall touched on farm and rural stress, the importance of establishing bipartisan political relationships, current issues of importance to the farm bureau, the need for more farmers to champion the story of agriculture, and more.

“We have to get rid of the stigma that goes along with mental stress,” Duvall said, referring to the lingering mental health repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on farmers and ranchers. Duvall also touted the launch of AFBF’s Farm State of Mind mental health awareness campaign and resource directory.

The AFBF president, in the midst of a multi-state tour of state farm bureau meetings and conventions, said that state farm bureaus and their county affiliates should strive to achieve cordial relations with local, state and federal leaders and lawmakers. “For 102 years we have found a way to work with whoever the voters send to Washington, D.C. Whether you like the politics or not, we’re bipartisan. And whoever the president is or whatever party he comes from, we try to find a way to work with them,” Duvall said.

Duvall went on to praise his relationship with USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, while lambasting the current lack of bipartisanship in Congress and the U.S. EPA’s recommended revision of the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. “We’re working hard on WOTUS. We were hoping we’d never have to face this again after we’ve worked so hard on it,” Duvall, a Georgia farmer, said.

“We’re working with this president (Biden) to bring fairness to the livestock market, (and) investing in infrastructure such as broadband. We’ve got to make sure that this with this infrastructure bill that was just passed that those monies are spent properly, and that they close that digital divide between rural and urban America,” he added.

Duvall referred to the farm bureau delegates in attendance as “hard-working, God-fearing people” with stories to tell. “That storytelling is becoming more and more and more valuable,” he said. “I encourage all of you to get outside your fencerows, go to a town hall meeting when a congressman or senator is in town, open your farms up to their staff, bring those young people who’ve never seen a farm, and show them what agriculture is all about. It’s the most important thing you can do.”

Richard Guebert Jr. was reelected to a fifth and final term as IFB president during the meeting. Guebert was nominated by Janet McCabe, Cook County Farm Bureau president, who said she nominated Guebert because he had “proven to be an effective and responsive leader.”

McCabe cited improved communications and sharing of information between IFB and county farm bureaus, an increase in membership, more resources and development for specialty growers, and improved relationships with legislators among the reasons she nominated Guebert, who was first elected in 2013, to continue as IFB president.

“I’m honored and I look forward to the opportunity to serve IFB for two more years, and work alongside Brian Duncan in the policy development process throughout the state of Illinois going forward,” Guebert said during a post-meeting press conference.

On the meeting’s final day, IFB delegates met to pass policy resolutions that will be forwarded to the AFBF for consideration as national policy. In his wrap-up interview with the media, Guebert praised the voting delegates and touched on some of the policy cornerstones.

“After today’s delegate debate we have more clarity moving forward on a couple of issues in particular, one being energy and one being the (next) farm bill. There is a lot of (discussion) here in Illinois as to whether it should come with solar or wind projects all around the state that (will impact) our members and landowners,” Guebert said.

“Secondly, with the farm bill what we heard time and time again at listening sessions all around the state is that our members are concerned about climate and carbon sequestration, and they want to make sure that crop insurance is front and center and stays where it is and has been as risk management tool in our toolbox.”

Other highlights of the annual meeting included the awarding the IFB’s highest honor, the Charles B. Shuman Distinguished Service Award, to David Erickson. According to an IFB news release, Erickson is best known for his leadership roles in agricultural associations at both the state and national level. A farmer from Knox County who served as IFB vice president from 2014-2017, Erickson was honored for his many contributions to IFB and agriculture over the years.

The outstanding efforts of young Illinois farmers and leaders took center stage Sunday morning.

The 2021 County Young Leader Awards program highlighted the hard work and dedication of young leaders and county farm bureaus (CFB) across the state, including community projects and member engagement efforts. Awards for the top CFB contributions and top three outstanding programs were recognized Sunday. Young leader donations to address food insecurity are made as part of the AFBF’s national Harvest for All program. Harvest for All top contributors awards recognized CFBs with outstanding hunger-relief programs. Each was selected based on a combination of overall pounds of food donated, volunteer hours and dollars raised.

Nowell Moore, of Woodford County, was named the 2021 Young Leader Discussion Meet winner on Saturday. Moore will go on to represent Illinois in the national Young Farmers and Ranchers Discussion Meet, which will be part of the AFBF annual convention in January.

The 2021 meeting was held in both an in-person and virtual format, with around 1,500 total registrants. “I’m thankful we were able to come to Chicago and do what we normally do at a meeting,” Guebert said in his wrap-up.