Members of Iowa’s largest general farm organization gathered at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines this week to celebrate the achievements of 100 county Farm Bureaus, young farmer award winners and receive expert insight on key topics and issues shaping agriculture today. 

Zippy Duvall, American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) 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, receiving valuable insight into economic factors shaping agricultural markets and updates on national policy. During challenging economic times like these, informed decision making is crucial to sustainability in agriculture.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds addressed members virtually during the closing session and shared her strong support of Iowa farm families and agriculture, proclaiming Dec. 9-13, ‘Iowa Farm Bureau Week.’  Governor Reynolds recognized Iowa Farm Bureau as a valuable partner in moving Iowa forward. The Governor highlighted recent achievements and opportunities to add value to Iowa ag products.  

IFBF Elections 

Brian Feldpausch of Grundy County was re-elected IFBF vice president.  He was first elected vice president in 2022 and previously represented District 5 on the IFBF board of directors.  Brian and his wife, Jen, have three children, and grow corn, soybeans and alfalfa and raise hogs and cattle.

Randy Brincks of Winneshiek County was re-elected to the IFBF board of directors, representing District 1, comprised of 11 counties in northeast Iowa.  Randy and his wife, Mary, have five children and 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 re-elected to the IFBF board of directors, representing District 3, comprised of 12 counties in northwest Iowa.  Matt and his wife, Minde, have seven children and 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 re-elected to the IFBF board of directors, representing District 5, comprised of 11 counties in central Iowa.  Allen and his wife, Dee, have four children, and 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, January 24-29.  They include: IFBF President Brent Johnson of Calhoun County; IFBF Vice President Brian Feldpausch of Grundy County; 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 (DSA) 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.  

“He was one of those guys, for me, that really showed the light; that you can be involved in something bigger than yourself,” said IFBF President Brent Johnson. “You just know that when Bill went to work, he went to work for you, he went to work for farmers across the country. He was born that way.”

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 his 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.

“We’re big believers in promoting education, promoting the youth and promoting local economic development,” said Cogdill. “You have to invest back in your community, or it isn’t going to survive.”

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 long-time 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. 

“Every time I would talk to a civic group, they’d ask a lot of questions,” said Sailer. “We could tell them exactly what we do, how we do it and why we do it. There’s a lot of groups that share their perception, and it’s not the farmer’s perception of what we actually do.”

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 was selected as the winner of IFBF’s Young Farmer Discussion Meet and will represent Iowa in the AFBF Young Farmer & Rancher (YF&R) 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 a $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.  

The Young Farmer Discussion Meet is a unique competition in which participants are scored based on their ability to engage in a “cooperative” discussion on challenges affecting agriculture, similar to a county Farm Bureau board meeting discussion. Throughout their 30-minute discussion, the young farmers are awarded points based on their ability to identify the problem, seek solutions and listen to each other’s viewpoints—skills that are pertinent to gaining consumer trust in today’s world.  This year’s questions involved issues like growing Farm Bureau membership to reflect the diversity of Iowa agriculture and effective engagement with elected officials and lawmakers.