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Farm Bureau gathers for leadership conference
American Farm Bureau
Dec. 12, 2024 3:47 pm
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
WEST DES MOINES — Members of Iowa’s largest general farm organization gathered at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines this month to celebrate the achievements of 100 county Farm Bureaus.
Zippy Duvall, American Farm Bureau Federation president, addressed members of Iowa Farm Bureau’s Young Farm Program, delivering a keynote address during their award banquet.
Duvall provided updates on key issues facing agriculture today and shared a message of strength through unity, reinforcing the important role young farmers play in the future of American agriculture.
Farm Bureau members engaged in several educational breakout sessions during the two-day meeting.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds addressed members virtually during the closing session and shared her support of Iowa farm families and agriculture, proclaiming Dec. 9-13 Iowa Farm Bureau Week.
Reynolds highlighted recent achievements and opportunities to add value to Iowa ag products.
Brian Feldpausch, of Grundy County, was reelected IFBF vice president. He was first elected vice president in 2022 and previously represented District 5 on the IFBF board of directors.
Feldpausch and his wife, Jen, grow corn, soybeans and alfalfa and raise hogs and cattle.
Randy Brincks, of Winneshiek County, was reelected to the IFBF board of directors, representing District 1, comprised of 11 counties in northeast Iowa.
Brincks and his wife, Mary, grow corn, soybeans and alfalfa. As an independent pork producer, Brincks has farrow to finish hogs, sells feeder pigs and finishes cattle.
Matt Schuiteman, of Sioux County, was reelected to the IFBF board of directors, representing District 3, comprised of 12 counties in northwest Iowa. He and his wife, Minde, farm with his parents and grow corn and alfalfa.
The Schuitemans farrow and finish a small sow herd and custom feed isowean pigs.
Allen Burt, of Marshall County, was reelected to the IFBF board of directors, representing District 5, comprised of 11 counties in central Iowa. He and his wife, Dee, grow corn and soybeans and raise pigs and cattle on their farm.
Nine delegates were elected to represent Iowa at the 2025 AFBF Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas, Jan. 24-29. They are IFBF President Brent Johnson, of Calhoun County; Feldpausch; District 6 director Joe Dierickx, of Clinton County; Brent Lorimor, of Fremont County; Randy Dreher, of Audubon County; Brad Black, of Calhoun County; Darrick Hall, of Jones County; Bret Hays, of Mills County; and Beth Rachut, of Mitchell County.
Joel Wahling, of Shelby County, was elected to a three-year term on the IFBF internal study committee. The internal study committee serves as a liaison between the county Farm Bureau voting delegates and the state board of directors.
Distinguished Service to Ag award
Bill Northey, Larry Sailer and Sam Cogdill were recognized as Iowa Farm Bureau’s Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award recipients.
IFBF’s prestigious DSA Award has been presented to leaders in Iowa agriculture since 1978, recognizing leaders for a lifetime of dedication and positive impacts made in Iowa agriculture.
Northey, recognized posthumously, was a larger-than-life leader in Iowa agriculture, who touched the lives of many farmers through his life of work and dedication to agriculture.
Northey was a life-long Iowa Farm Bureau member and was recognized as an instrumental leader in agriculture, working for farmers to shape policy impacting renewable energy, conservation, trade, foreign animal disease and more.
From 2007-2018, Northey served as Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and played an instrumental role leading conservation progress with his work on Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy.
From 2018-2021, Northey served in Washington, D.C. as U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation. The Iowa State University alum also served as CEO of Agribusiness Association of Iowa until his passing in early 2024.
Sam Cogdill, of Dunlap, is a farmer and the president and CEO of Cogdill Farm Supply. With six western-Iowa locations, his facilities offer grain and fertilizer merchandising, agronomy services, feed, seed and farm supplies.
Cogdill was nominated by the Harrison County Farm Bureau for his lifetime of service to agriculture, role spearheading local economic development and commitment to supporting youth in agriculture.
Under Cogdilll’s 40-year leadership as president of the Dunlap Community Development Corporation, the town has built the Dunlap Industrial Park, which houses five thriving businesses.
He is also credited with playing a pivotal role in bringing one of the community’s largest employers, Quality Liquid Feed manufacturing plant, to Dunlap, spearheading the establishment of two much-needed medical facilities in town and helping to establish ethanol plants in Denison and Nevada.
As a member of the Boyer Valley School Ag Foundation and through his support for 4-H and FFA, Cogdill continues to be a steadfast advocate for rural education and youth development. He estimates each year, his business invests $100,000 toward 4-H and youth projects.
Larry Sailer, a farmer from Iowa Falls, is a longtime Franklin County Farm Bureau leader and agricultural advocate. He is the Franklin County Republican Central Committee chair, Global Farmer Network farmer leader, farmer ambassador for Farm Journal Foundation and a board member with Park Place of Hampton, a nonprofit supporting individuals with mental illnesses.
Sailer’s advocacy has taken him across the globe, including trips to Australia, Japan and Ukraine. He frequently participates in media interviews to share his farm story and to address misinformation in farming.
Sailer regularly visits classrooms to teach students about farming and makes consistent contact with legislators on issues critical to farmers. Through his leadership and outreach, Sailer continues to bridge the gap between farmers and their communities, ensuring accurate and transparent communication about modern agriculture.
Young Farmer Discussion Meet
Kyle Larsen of Humboldt County won IFBF’s Young Farmer Discussion Meet and will represent Iowa in the AFBF Young Farmer & Rancher Discussion Meet during the AFBF Annual Convention in January.
Larsen also received a $2,500 cash prize from IFBF, a $1,500 cash prize from GROWMARK and an expense paid trip to the 2025 IFBF Young Farmer Conference.
The second-place finisher was Coltin Schachtner Kramer of Pocahontas County. Schachtner Kramer received a $1,000 cash prize from IFBF and $500 cash prize from GROWMARK.
Third-place finisher Larissa Schippers of Mahaska County received a $500 cash prize from IFBF, a YETI cooler, courtesy of Farm Bureau Financial Services and an Adventureland package with six passes and a cabana rental.
Dani Rehder of O’Brien County finished fourth and received a $250 cash prize from GROWMARK, a $100 cash prize from IFBF and an Adventureland package with six passes and a cabana rental.