Leadership Luncheon

Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026 at 12:00 p.m.

County, state and national Farm Bureau leaders will gather at the AFBF Leadership Luncheon to reflect on the power of early engagement in Farm Bureau. Attendees will hear directly from young leaders in Farm Bureau as they share their personal journeys of getting involved at the county and collegiate levels — and how those early experiences shaped their leadership and deepened their commitment to Farm Bureau. Through candid testimonials, panelists will highlight why early opportunities to lead, contribute ideas, and bring fresh energy are essential to keeping the next generation invested in Farm Bureau for life. Attendees will leave with practical insights and inspiration for cultivating a welcoming culture that not only invites young members in but empowers them to advance the mission of Farm Bureau for decades to come.

Individual - $100
Reserved Table of 8: $900

Speakers:

• August D'Amato, State YF&R Committee Member, California Farm Bureau
• Tara de Jong, Huntington County Collegiate Liaison, Indiana Farm Bureau
• Keion Jackson, Wayne County Farm Bureau YF&R Chair, Michigan Farm Bureau
• Knox Rogers, Lincoln County Farm Bureau Youth Council Representative, Tennessee Farm Bureau

Moderator:

• Ryan MacKay, AFBF YF&R Chair, Massachusetts Farm Bureau

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Thank you to the Sponsors of this event:

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Speaker Details:

August D'Amato

August is a first generation farmer - born and raised in Delaware who moved to California 10 years ago to pursue a career in the wine industry. She was an integral part of reintroducing the Napa Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee in 2019 and has since been appointed District Representative and has been serving on the California YF&R executive committee since 2023.

August is a Vineyard Manager and PCA for Beckstoffer Vineyards in Napa, CA.

Tara De Jong

Tara de Jong is a senior accounting student at Huntington University with a strong passion for agriculture and community leadership. During her time at Huntington, she served as a Collegiate Farm Bureau officer, as a liaison for Huntington County for two years, and was also a Collegiate Discussion Meet finalist. Tara further demonstrated her leadership as treasurer of the university’s Horticulture Club. After graduation, Tara and her husband plan to return to their hometown of DeMotte, Indiana, where she hopes to pursue a career in agricultural lending or work in the accounting department of a local ag company. She also looks forward to continuing her involvement with Indiana Farm Bureau in Jasper County, contributing to the agricultural community that shaped her.

Keion Jackson

Keion Jackson is an urban agriculture farmer and advocate from Wayne County, Michigan (Detroit is in this county) who works diligently to connect traditional agriculture with emerging urban farming communities. As a Young Farmer leader and Farm Bureau representative, he is all about outreach. Keion has helped create dialogue and access for young people and urban growers while strengthening relationships across all types of agriculture. Through his goat-grazing operation,  KAAJ FARMS, Keion also delivers practical, sustainable land management solutions for public green spaces. He brings a unique perspective shaped by hands-on farming, urban innovation, and grassroots leadership.

Ryan MacKay

Ryan MacKay is a first-generation farmer from Massachusetts. He built Lilac Hedge Farm from the ground up, starting his journey by managing piecemeal land rentals near his childhood home. In 2015, he bought his first property, and the operation has since grown dramatically to include 500 acres across three farms and a team of nearly 100 people. Lilac Hedge Farm is a mixed livestock operation raising beef, pork, lamb, and poultry. Under Ryan’s leadership, the business successfully moved past the traditional farmers' market and CSA model to become a full-scale direct-to-consumer enterprise, now utilizing home delivery and shipping to service over 1,000 customer households every week. This growth is supported by popular on-site retail operations, including a year-round farm stand, a farm kitchen and bar, an ice cream stand, and Airbnb stays. Ryan is recognized as a leading voice in agricultural advocacy and business innovation. He offers a vital, boots-on-the-ground perspective on scaling direct-to-consumer logistics and achieving sustainable business growth for the next generation of American agriculture.

Knox Rogers

Knox is a fifth-generation farmer in commercial vegetable production, more specifically, sweet potatoes. Through his background in agriculture, he has had the opportunity to succeed in FFA and the Youth leadership in Agriculture program. He is currently a Senior at Lincoln County High where he serves as the president of the Lincoln County FFA Chapter. This has allowed his to be a returning member of the Ag leadership board.