New Horizon Award Winners - Showcasing Innovative Initiatives Across the Country

The State Awards of Excellence New Horizon Award celebrates innovation by recognizing new and innovative state Farm Bureau programs. This session will showcase the 2025 New Horizon Award winners and their award-winning initiatives. Come learn what's working across the country and walk away with new and creative ideas for strengthening the future of Farm Bureau.

Group 1 – Delaware

Program Title: Educating through Specialty Crop Crates

Speaker: William “Bill” Powers, Delaware Farm Bureau President

Group 2 – New York

Program Title: State Annual Convention (StaCon) for NYFB

Speaker: Laurie Beach, Director of Events & Development

Group 3 – Minnesota

Program Title: Rural Healthcare Initiative

Speaker: Ruth Linkenmeyer-Meirick, Foundation Director

Group 4 – South Carolina

Program Title: Palmetto Threaded: Reweaving Agriculture into the Economic and Cultural Fabric of South Carolina.

Speakers: Jason Davison, Director of Organization & Loren Lindler, SCFB Young Farmers & Ranchers

Group 5 – Michigan

Program Title: Connecting Communities Campaign.

Alysa Sanford, Promotion & Education Chair, Michigan Farm Bureau Board of Directors

Tonia Ritter, Manager, Promotion & Education Department

Group 6 – Texas

Program Title: Early Ag Teacher Professional Development

Speaker: Jordan Bartels, Associate Director, Education and Outreach