American Farm Bureau Federation

American Farm Bureau Federation

The American Farm Bureau Federation was founded in 1919 as a national umbrella for state and county farm bureaus, unifying agricultural producers around common legislative and economic goals. Zippy Duvall, a Georgia farmer, has served as president since 2016; Julie Anna Potts runs day-to-day operations as executive vice president. Membership dues and program revenues fund the organization; its affiliated insurance companies, including American Farm Bureau Insurance Services, generate significant premium income across multiple states. The federation's policy portfolio spans farm bill reauthorization, crop insurance subsidies, trade negotiations, immigration reform, and climate-smart agriculture programs. It engages directly with Congress and USDA on commodity support and conservation programs. AFBF also provides member services including legal advocacy, market data, and risk management education. It has supported voluntary carbon markets and renewable energy development for farms, while opposing certain EPA regulations. With offices only in Washington, DC, and a permanent staff of roughly 100, the federation's influence extends through its 50 state affiliates. It operates the American Farm Bureau Federation Political Action Committee (AFBF-PAC), which contributed over $2.5 million to federal candidates in the 2024 cycle, primarily supporting incumbents of both parties. September 2024: Hosted its 106th annual convention in San Antonio, highlighting policy priorities for the 2025 farm bill. AFBF is structurally distinct from for-profit family offices or asset managers: it functions as a membership-driven nonprofit with a commercial insurance arm, a political advocacy apparatus, and a policy research institute. Its governance is elected by member farmers, not set by a family or board of investors. This hybrid structure — part lobbying group, part insurer, part grassroots network — is uncommon among national trade associations.