Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation’s Landmark Leadership Program was recognized at the American Farm Bureau Convention with an AFBF Horizon Award, honoring the most innovative new state Farm Bureau programs. MFBF was one of six states to receive the Horizon Award.

The Landmark Leadership Council was created in 2023 to engage members 35 to 55 years old and give them the tools to be better grassroots advocates for agriculture.

Mike McCormick: “Those are the leaders that are actively engaged in farming.  They’ve gotten their operations up off the ground and they want hard things to tackle,” said Mike McCormick, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation President. “They want the information that they need to be successful and we’re just planning on listening to what they want and delivering that to them.”

Previously, once members aged out of MFBF’s Young Farmers and Ranchers program, there was no program specifically for this age group. Members felt disconnected. Now, through Landmark Leadership Council, they feel there is a place to continue growing as leaders in Farm Bureau.

“It means the world to me.  When I was coming through the YF&R, that’s what we talked about as a group,” said Kirby Mauldin, Jones County poultry farmer and LLC member.  “We got to have something to keep these young farmers involved in Farm Bureau to transition them into and to keep them going, and to keep them interested in Farm Bureau. I think it’s an outstanding organization.”

Landmark Leadership Council focuses on meaningful engagement in specific agricultural issues, significant participation in policy development and regulatory matters, intentional agricultural advocacy, and mentorship of our state’s Young Farmers & Ranchers members.

“We wanted a program for that age group to keep them involved with Farm Bureau,” said McCormick. “It’s going to be something that’ll keep Farm Bureau active in the lives of the young farmers around the state.  That’s a critical age group to help us generate policy and be great leaders for this organization for the future.”

“Winning this Horizon Award shows we are taking the steps to provide our members with the tools they need to be agriculture advocates. I could not be more excited to see what the future holds for the MFBF Landmark Leadership Council,” said Samantha Laird, Landmark Leadership Council coordinator.