The Delaware Farm Bureau (DEFB) came out on top last week as it was honored with the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) highest award available for programming and membership during the national conference held in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The conference, which ran from Friday, Jan. 19 through Wednesday, Jan. 24, was a chance for farmers and volunteers alike to gather, network, learn and work together to advocate for the agricultural industry.
They also celebrated many accomplishments like those of the Delaware Farm Bureau which brought home the Pinnacle Award, New Horizon Award, making this the third consecutive year DEFB has received this award, and Awards of Excellence.
“It’s nice to see that our work was recognized at the national level. We work hard to provide programming to our members and the public that is relevant and promotes agriculture and safety in Delaware and these awards highlight those efforts,” DEFB Marketing Coordinator and Assistant Executive Director Mikayla Paul said.
The Pinnacle Award is the highest honor available by the national organization. Delaware joined New Mexico, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Arkansas and North Carolina in receiving this honor during the 2024 conference. DEFB President Bill Powers was on hand during the event to accept the award.
“It was really an incredible feeling to walk across that stage in front of a conference full of dedicated advocates and farmers and accept these awards on behalf of the Delaware Farm Bureau. Delaware may be small, but we have a lot of positive energy in our staff and volunteers. Receiving the Pinnacle Award really speaks to that energy and what we can accomplish when we work together,” Powers said.
The New Horizon Award was presented to Powers on behalf of the DEFB in recognition for the organization’s annual Safety Conference which is now in its seventh year. The award honors the “most innovative new state Farm Bureau program,” according to AFBF. The Safety Conference, which is organized by the Delaware Farm Bureau Promotion and Education Committee, in partnership with Nationwide, is a one-day event held in March focused on promoting agricultural safety practices.
This year’s conference will be held Wednesday, March 20 at Loblolly Acres. More information on registration and/or sponsorship is available online at www.DEFB.org.
The Awards of Excellence was also presented to the DEFB honoring outstanding achievements in one of four categories: Advocacy, Coalitions & Partnerships, Engagement & Outreach or Leadership & Business Development. The DEFB was honored with this award for all four categories, highlighting events such as the organization’s legislative meals, public outreach efforts like its partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture and Delaware’s Department of Agriculture to promote specialty crops grown in Delaware, and membership outreach programs such as its first statewide Farm Bureau picnic for members which was held in 2022.
“We work hard to fulfill our mission of promoting and protecting Delaware agriculture. We’re grateful that AFBF took the time to recognize us for the work we do here in Delaware. As a lifetime farmer, I know how important it is to be a part of a group of people who are just as dedicated as I am to furthering not only our industry, but our families, too. The Farm Bureau does that very well. It’s an honor to see those efforts recognized with these awards from AFBF,” DEFB Executive Director Don Clifton said.
For more about awards presented during the AFBF’s 2024 annual convention, please visit www.fb.org.
