American Farm Bureau Convention Sunday Preview: Remarks from President Zippy Duvall, Ag Innovation Challenge Final Four, Opening News Conference and More

ATLANTA, January 8, 2022 – The American Farm Bureau officially kicks off an exciting calendar of in-person and virtual programming Sunday, focused on the future of agriculture and the most pressing issues for farmers, ranchers and consumers in 2022.

Sunday’s plethora of programming includes two general sessions, 12 workshops, the live pitch competition for the final four Ag Innovation Challenge teams and the Sweet 16 round of the Young Farmers & Ranchers Discussion Meet. AFBF President Zippy Duvall will deliver his keynote remarks during the opening general session at 9:30 a.m. Eastern.

Media are also invited to attend the convention opening press conference at 11:15 a.m. Eastern. President Duvall will discuss successes from 2021 and Farm Bureau priorities for 2022.  Chief Economist Roger Cryan will share top industry issues such as inflation, supply chain issues and the farm economy outlook for 2022.

Featured workshops available for virtual attendees will focus on public policy issues expected to impact the coming year, farmer mental health, the 2022 trade outlook, advocating for agriculture and a town hall discussing the top issues relevant to agriculture media.

AFBF Policy Team Town Hall, 10:45 a.m. Eastern: Hear from the AFBF Public Policy Team in a roundtable of issue updates regarding AFBF priorities, expectations of the second session of the 117th Congress and the latest from the Biden administration.

Mobilizing the Conversation Around Mental Health, 10:45 a.m. Eastern: To truly impact change, address stigma and help those who need it most, we must mobilize the conversation around mental health in our personal lives, in our sphere of influence and as grassroots leaders in Farm Bureau. In this session, you will hear from different Farm Bureaus and members about what they are doing to actively promote, support and advance the conversation around mental health in farm and ranch communities.

The Power of Engagement: Influencing and Advocating, 1:15 p.m. Eastern: Hear successful stories on engaging and advocating for agriculture through social media. Learn how ag influencers use online platforms to tell their story and connect with consumers about where their food comes from.

Trade and American Agriculture: Stability or Turmoil Ahead?, 2:30 p.m. Eastern: U.S. farmers and ranchers are critical to agricultural trade. This workshop will cover the benefits and challenges of the current international trade environment and the role of American agriculture. The administration’s positions on trade issues and agreements will also be reviewed.

Ag Media Town Hall: Top Issues in Agriculture, 2:30 p.m. Eastern: What are the top issues facing America’s farmers and ranchers? Reporters covering the ag space join to discuss the hottest issues in agriculture.

Virtual registration is available throughout convention. The full schedule and virtual registration information can all be found at annualconvention.fb.org.