Farm Bureau’s Campaign School Equips Future Leaders to Run, Serve, and Lead
Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation recently hosted the first session of its three-part Campaign School, an educational series designed to prepare individuals who are considering running for public office. Nearly 20 individuals registered for the session, which covered campaign fundamentals—from candidate evaluation and issue awareness to media presence, fundraising, and personal branding.
The Campaign School is part of MFBF’s ongoing effort to help Mississippians engage in effective, values-driven leadership at every level of government. Two additional sessions are planned for May 20, 2026, and February 17, 2027.
“Our goal is to help those who feel called to serve their communities understand what it truly takes to run, serve, and lead,” said Kevin H. Brown, MFBF Region 5 Manager and Policy Development Coordinator. “Through Campaign School, we provide tools and insights that make the process more approachable and empower individuals to carry Farm Bureau’s grassroots mission forward.”
The day began with opening remarks from MFBF President Mike McCormick and Brown, followed by a series of sessions highlighting specific topics for candidates to consider, like how to launch a campaign and build early support, the importance of authentic storytelling and personal branding, and understanding the district and voter-related issues. Speakers discussed everything from campaign structure and messaging to time commitment and family considerations, emphasizing the need for strong relationships and communication.
Another important takeaway from the day was the value of involving and educating family members throughout the campaign journey. The Family Panel offered insight from spouses and family members of current elected officials who spoke candidly about their roles, challenges, and the importance of teamwork behind the scenes. The discussion helped participants understand how family support and shared commitment can make a meaningful difference in both a campaign’s success and the candidate’s ability to serve effectively once elected.
Attendees described the experience as both practical and inspiring.
“I’ve always been interested in politics as long as I can remember. When I saw Farm Bureau was having the Campaign School, I wanted to attend—and I’m obviously glad I did,” said Miller Greenlee of Oktibbeha County. “Farm Bureau has done a great job being an advocate to help people across not only Mississippi but the U.S. The session was beneficial, and I would definitely recommend that anybody either working on a campaign or thinking about running for office attend.”
“I have worked on several campaigns, and the information provided at the recent Farm Bureau Campaign School was insightful, concise, extremely helpful, and packed with practical information that every potential candidate needs,” added Lisa Buelow Ireland of Hinds County. “The thought of running for public office can seem overwhelming, but the information from the school kept the process organized and manageable. Thank you to the Farm Bureau team for helping prepare candidates to serve our state.”
MFBF’s previous Campaign School, held in May 2023, resulted in an impressive 82.5% success rate among attendees who went on to win their elections. With a strong foundation of knowledge and community support, this year’s participants left equipped and inspired to serve their communities and our state through purposeful leadership.