Public Policy Hot Topics

What are the top issues impacting rural America? Hear from AFBF’s Government Affairs Team in a roundtable of issue updates regarding Farm Bureau priorities. Get an update on actions in the first year of the 119^th Congress and Trump 47 Administration and a preview of upcoming potential regulatory and congressional activities in 2026.

Speakers:

• Ryan Yates Managing Director of Government Affairs AFBF
• Courtney Briggs Senior Director, Government Affairs AFBF
• Shelby Hagenauer Senior Director, Government Affairs AFBF
• Dave Salmonsen Senior Director, Government Affairs AFBF
• John Walt Boatright Director, Government Affairs AFBF
• Brian Glenn, Director, Government Affairs AFBF
• RJ Layher, Director, Government Affairs AFBF

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Get to Know the Speakers:

Ryan Yates is the Managing Director for Government Affairs at the American Farm Bureau Federation. In this role, Yates manages the AFBF Government Affairs department in the preparation and execution of strategies to implement Farm Bureau legislative and regulatory policy priorities.

Yates previously served as Director of Congressional Relations at AFBF where he advocated on behalf of American farmers and ranchers on policy issues including federal lands management, the Endangered Species Act, and protection of private property rights. He has 19 years of experience in agriculture and natural resource issues in Washington, D.C. having served on the staff of the U.S House of Representatives Committee on Resources, as well as lobbying for the National Association of Counties and National Association of Conservation Districts. Yates is a 2003 graduate of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, obtaining a degree in Agricultural Business with a minor in Economics.

John Walt Boatright joined AFBF as Director of Government Affairs in November 2022. In this role, John Walt’s portfolio includes farm labor, pesticides, food safety, and specialty crops. This includes legislative initiatives in Congress, as well as engagement with the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.

In addition to working closely with state Farm Bureaus and policymakers to accomplish AFBF policy, John Walt also represents the organization in its collaborative industry work, including the Agriculture Workforce Coalition, the Pesticide Policy Coalition, the Minor Crop Farmer Alliance, the Agricultural Safety & Health Council of America, and the Commodity Liaison Committee of the IR-4 Project.

Prior to joining American Farm Bureau, he led national affairs for Florida Farm Bureau for over 5 years. A native Floridian, John Walt graduated with a bachelor’s degree in food and resource Economics from the University of Florida in 2013.

Courtney Briggs serves as the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Senior Director of Government Affairs. Her issue portfolio encompasses Clean Water Act and conservation issues. Courtney’s work focuses on specific issues such as Waters of the United States, nutrient reduction strategies and NRCS conservation compliance.

Courtney came to the American Farm Bureau Federation in November 2021. Prior to joining AFBF she served as Senior Federal Legislative Director of Government Affairs at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). For over a decade, Courtney directed the federal lobbying on environment, transportation, and land use policies. Courtney currently serves as Chair of the Waters Advocacy Coalition, a multi-industry coalition that focuses on Clean Water Act issues. Prior to joining NAHB, she spent 5 years on Capitol Hill working for Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC).

Courtney grew up outside of Winston-Salem, North Carolina and graduated from Villanova University with a degree in political science. She lives on Capitol Hill with her husband and two young children.

Brian Glenn grew up on a small farm in Highland, Maryland, where his family raised Hereford beef steers and participated actively in the Howard County Fair. In addition to showing beef cattle, Brian also exhibited Jersey and Holstein dairy heifers. He earned a degree in Agricultural Resource and Economics from the University of Maryland and began his career in agricultural policy with CropLife America, where he served on the government affairs team for more than six years, including an internship. In June, Brian joined the American Farm Bureau Federation’s government affairs team, where he works on behalf of farmers and ranchers across the country on farm policy and Title I programs, the farm bill, renewable fuels, sustainability, pesticides, MAHA, and urban agriculture. Brian resides in Washington, D.C., and enjoys returning home to Maryland to spend time with his nieces and nephew.

Shelby Hagenauer serves as Senior Director of Government Affairs at the American Farm Bureau Federation. In this role, she advocates on behalf of American farmers and ranchers on policy issues including federal lands management, the Endangered Species Act, western water, and protection of private property rights.

Shelby has more than 20 years of experience in natural resource and agriculture issues in Washington, D.C. She served on the staff of Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and former House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas (R-CA), where her role included advising Leader McCarthy through a farm bill during his time serving on the House Agriculture Committee. In the private sector, Shelby worked at a California-based law firm, advising clients on a range of policy issues and political engagement. Most recently she served as Deputy Commissioner at the Bureau of Reclamation in the Department of the Interior, where she helped lead the nation’s largest wholesale water provider, as well as directly managed congressional and public affairs and ensured robust stakeholder engagement.

Shelby graduated from the College of William and Mary in Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in history, and resides in Arlington, Virginia.

R.J. grew up on his family's fifth generation farm in Southeast Michigan. He graduated from Hillsdale College, where he also played football, in 2010 with a degree in Political Economy. Prior to joining the Farm Bureau team in April 2022, R.J. has worked in the office of Timothy V. Johnson (R-IL-Ret.) during the 2012 Farm Bill, was Director of Health & Regulatory Affairs for the American Horse Council, a Legislative Assistant for Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL) during the 2018 Farm Bill, served in the Trump Administration at USDA as a Policy Advisor to Martin Barbre, Administrator of the Risk Management Agency, and most recently a Legislative Assistant for Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL).

He will be graduating from Kansas State University with a Masters of Agribusiness in the fall.

In his free time, R.J. enjoys playing golf, traveling, and watching college football and basketball. R.J. and his wife, Rachel, reside in Washington, D.C.

David Salmonsen is currently senior director of governmental affairs with the American Farm Bureau Federation office in Washington, D.C. As a member of the Public Policy Team his responsibilities include trade policy and international issues.

Prior to joining the American Farm Bureau in 1996 he was Assistant to the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. He was also Senior Director of Governmental Relations with the New York Farm Bureau.

David grew up on a diversified dairy, crop and vegetable farm in Manlius, N.Y. He graduated from the University at Albany and from the Washington College of Law. He is a member of the USDA/USTR Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee. He previously served on the Advisory Committee for the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the University at Albany. He is a graduate of Class V of the LEAD-NY program. David is a member of the American Agricultural Law Association and is admitted to the bar in New York.

He is the principal Washington legislative contact for several Northeastern State Farm Bureaus.