Justin and Alli McKain, former District 7 Indiana Farm Bureau State Young Farmer & Ag Professionals Committee representatives, have been appointed to serve on the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmer & Rancher Committee for 2021-2023. The McKains, from Sullivan County, served on INFB’s YF&AP Committee from 2018-2020 and represented Clay, Daviess, Greene, Knox, Owen, Martin, Sullivan and Vigo counties.
While serving on the national committee, the McKains will help evaluate and update AFBF’s Young Farmer & Rancher long-term plan and serve as a contact for several state young farmer groups. They also will assist with executing Young Farmer & Rancher competitive events at the annual AFBF convention and provide programming advice for the Young Farmer & Rancher Leadership Conference.
Published: Friday, December 18, 2020
Each year at the Indiana Farm Bureau convention, the organization s president reflects on the year that s passed and discusses his vision for the future of the organization with members from across the state.
This year, INFB s convention was drastically different. Due to COVID-19, INFB made the difficult decision to take this year s convention virtual. No one enjoys state convention more than I do. It s an opportunity for me to reconnect with our long-time friends and members and get to know our new ones, said Randy Kron, INFB president. So, cancelling the in-person state convention wasn t an easy decision, but it was made because it s in the best interest of our members and Farm Bureau staff.
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Credit Courtesy of Indiana Farm Bureau
For the first time, the Indiana Farm Bureau held its annual convention online due to the pandemic. The virtual event faced some internet challenges – further highlighting the need to expand and improve rural broadband.
While there have been federal, state and local initiatives to address the digital divide, thousands of Hoosiers still don’t have access to internet that’s reliable and affordable.
A study conducted by Purdue University researchers showed that for every $1 invested into rural broadband, $4 would be returned to the economy.
When trying to get Isabella Chism, INFB second vice president, to join virtually for a few comments after winning reelection, President Randy Kron said there was a little broadband technical issue and thanked everyone for their patience.
Indiana Farm Bureau’s first ever virtual convention concluded over the weekend. INFB President Randy Kron hopes that it will be the last all-virtual convention they hold, but he was pleased with how everything turned out.
“I am happy with the turnout, what we did and how it worked. The technology all worked which, with our broadband issues, sometimes that’s a challenge, but it was a success. Now, would I have rather been in person? Absolutely! That’s what I heard from most people- they liked it, they thought the event was good, but they just missed the social activity and we missed out on that.”