Iowa Farm Bureau Federation

“The organization has members. Any person may be a county Farm Bureau member. All county Farm Bureau members have voting rights and the same access to member benefits.”

“The organizations members elect the Board of Directors.”

“Certain rights are reserved to members of the organization, including: 1) elect the Board of Directors, including the voting delegate to the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, 2) adopt amendments to the Articles of Incorporation, and 3) adopt amendments to those bylaws designated as member bylaws.”

“Management reviews the documents and presents the return to all members of the governing body. Following final board approval, the return is signed by an officer and submitted to the IRS.”

“On an annual basis, all officers, directors, and key employees are required to sign a statement which affirms that they have: 1) received a copy of the conflict of interest policy, 2) read and understood the policy, 3) agreed to comply with the policy, 4) understand that the Organization is tax-exempt and in order to maintain its federal tax exemption it must engage primarily in activities which accomplish its tax-exempt purpose. A sub-committee, comprised of non-conflicted Board of Directors, annually receives all conflict of interest information, reviews, and determines if there are conflicts of interest. The committee then reports its findings back to the Board.”

“The Organization does not make its governing documents, conflict of interest policy, or financial statements available for public inspection. Pursuant to state law, some documents may be available to members.”

“Part III, Line 4a - Education - The company communicated with teachers, educators, and schools, promoting resources and grant opportunities to incorporate agriculture into the classroom. The company communicates with guidance counselors in three local schools, providing them with information to distribute to students for three scholarships for county students. They have a strong Ag in the Classroom program where the coordinator works with local schools, promoting agriculture education to elementary, middle, and high school students at three local school districts.”

“Part III, Line 4b - Policy Development - The company encouraged members to identify and prioritize issues critical to local agricultural operations. To assess the significance of these concerns across various levels, an opinionnaire was distributed to the membership, focusing on local, state, and national matters. Based on member input, the organization drafted county-level resolutions to be presented by the Voting Delegate to the State Delegate Body. Additionally, member leaders actively engaged with elected officials at all levels to advocate for policies that support and strengthen the agricultural community.”

“Part III, Line 4c - Promotions - The company is active in the promotion of agriculture to the members and the local community. The company has purchased radio advertising at two local radio stations to promote agriculture to all people in the area. They sponsor the Women Gaining Ground Conference. They sponsored Battle of the Bulls in Sidney and promoted the company by working to obtain memberships. They participated in a local parade, handing out water bottles with county agriculture facts. They promoted them with Thank a Farmer bags, where they handed out bags with snacks and company information to farmers during harvest.”