The Zipline

As a father and now a grandfather, one of the most bittersweet moments is watching your kids and grandkids climb onto the bus for the first day of school each year.

August is here, which means for Farm Bureau, our policy development process is heading into full swing.

Time is running out for Congress to pass a modernized farm bill this year. Families — on and off the farm — cannot afford a delay.

One of the most fulfilling aspects of serving as Farm Bureau president is getting the chance to witness firsthand the remarkable things our members are doing within their communities.

Members of Congress will return home for the traditional August recess. Then after a brief time back in Washington, they will once again be back home to campaign in October.

As a father, grandfather, farmer and man of faith, balance has become a cornerstone of my life. I have come to appreciate how crucial balance is in every aspect.

Farmers and ranchers are always looking to the future, whether that’s finding ways we can be more innovative and efficient or building up our local communities.

The Fourth of July is a highlight of the year on our family farm. Each summer, my family gets together for a traditional cookout, celebrating our nation with delicious food and the company of loved ones.

Picture this: a world without fresh strawberries, watermelon or apples. Pretty gloomy, right? Thankfully, we have bees and other pollinators who are responsible for the fertilization of many fruits, vegetables and nuts.

On the family farm, there’s a job for everyone, including our furry, four-legged friends. Farm dogs play an important role on the farm and hold a special place in our hearts.

Summer break is just around the corner, but learning is always in season. The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture is abuzz with resources, activities and literacy items for learners of all ages.

When it comes to the 2024 farm bill, we are at one of those critical points, and if we’re going to reach the finish line, it’s time for Congress to pick up the pace.

May is Mental Health Month. This time is a great reminder for each of us to make sure we are consistently checking in with ourselves, with our friends and family, and beyond our fencerows with our neighbors and community members.

When I first joined Farm Bureau as a young farmer, my goal was simple: to make a positive impact and uplift the lives of my fellow farmers.

From iron plows to driverless tractors, new ideas and innovative businesses have continually pushed the boundaries of what’s possible in farming.

Spring is a time of planning, planting and new growth on the farm. From preparing to plant seeds for the next crop to tending trees freshly in bloom, farmers are working hard to ensure strong yields in the months ahead.

There’s not a day that goes by, when farmers aren’t thinking about how to leave the land better than we found it.

For decades now, farmers and ranchers have been advocating for a solution to our nation’s broken agricultural labor system.

The strength of Farm Bureau shines through when we speak with a united voice on behalf of our farms, ranches and rural communities.

Many times, while standing on the very land my father and grandfather cultivated, I reflect on how things have changed. From the adoption of new sustainability practices to our approach to livestock management, our farming methods have evolved significantly.

Farmers and ranchers don’t shy away from hard work. When there’s a storm coming, we band together to bring the crops in. When our neighbors need a hand rebuilding, we pack our tools in our trucks and head right over.

The investment and protection of the next generation to enter agriculture or keep their family farm running has long been a priority at Farm Bureau.

From a window atop my grandfather’s old barn, you can see my family’s whole farm, from the hayfields to the chicken houses to the pasture where the mama cows are grazing.

I can still remember my first county Farm Bureau meeting like it was yesterday. After becoming frustrated with challenges on my farm, dad encouraged me to get outside my own fencerows.

When a storm comes rolling through or tragedy strikes, farmers and ranchers are always willing to pitch in to help our family, friends or community. It’s how we are wired.

We have just wrapped up our 105th American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention and Trade Show in Salt Lake City, and I am so grateful for the time we had to look to new frontiers in our organization and across agriculture.

With a few new calves on our family farm, we have gotten a chance to pull out the old-fashioned milking stool. It’s a simple design, but those three legs keep you steady.

There’s nothing quite like the fresh start of a new year. After all the holiday decorations are put away and the college bowl games have wrapped up, many of us start making our resolutions for the year ahead.

Every morning, when I am able to be at home, I look over our family farm and can’t help but feel an overwhelming pride knowing that my father and grandfather stood and looked over these same Georgia hills.

Have you saved your spot at the 2024 American Farm Bureau Convention? There’s still time! I’m excited for the lineup as we explore New Frontiers together in Salt Lake City Jan. 19-24.

Have you opened a holiday book yet this season to read to the kids? Or, if your grandkids are like mine, maybe you find yourself reading an old favorite again and again as they recite the words along with you.

The dairy aisles can be a bit of a puzzle these days due to the misleading labeling of plant and nut-based beverages as “milk.” Don’t mistake me here, everyone should have the options they are looking for, but they also need to know exactly what they are getting.

During the Thanksgiving holiday, some will be traveling a few miles down the road to gather with family and friends. Others may travel a few thousand miles.

I still remember the day my father announced to the family that he had bought several cows and that we were now in the dairy business. We milked those cows twice a day, and I can tell you we didn’t always look forward to the work.

We pause as a nation to express our heartfelt gratitude to our veterans. It never quite feels like enough, however, compared to all these men and women have sacrificed in service to our country.

There is a quiet a battle being waged to ensure the high quality food and fuel being produced by U.S. farmers and ranchers reaches consumers around the world.

In Farm Bureau, we are looking to the future — from policy shaping agriculture to the innovation driving America’s farms and ranches. That future depends on training tomorrow’s leaders today.

Dairy is a hard industry, even on its best days, and a lot of that comes from understanding the puzzle of how prices are set under the Federal Milk Marketing Order system.

The kids are fully back in school, holidays are around the corner and things on the farm are getting a lot busier with harvest season. With all the busyness, it is even more important to prioritize mental health and wellness.

Words fail when we see the devastation of natural disasters, from wildfires to hurricanes. We watch the reports, read the headlines and pray for relief from the suffering and comfort for the hurting.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is the chance to see how farmers are developing and implementing new innovative solutions as we work together to feed, fuel and clothe the world.

Second chances don’t come along every day. But every once in a while, we get a chance to start fresh, learn from our mistakes and do better.

The American Farm Bureau Federation is the “Voice of Agriculture” thanks to our active grassroots members speaking up on the issues affecting their farms.

One of the earliest lessons I learned from my dad was to see value in the things around me — whether it be the value of a hard day’s work on the farm, the value of contributing to the community or the value of friends and family.

At the American Farm Bureau Federation, we pride ourselves as the unified “Voice of Agriculture” — and that voice comes directly from our farm and ranch family members.

My father taught me to be a man of my word. Whether spoken or written, your word is your bond. It’s important that we hold up our end of an agreement, and that we expect our partners to do the same.

The clock is ticking for the farm bill as it is set to expire at the end of September. Farmers and ranchers aren’t the only ones with eyes on the clock, either.

August recess is just around the corner here in Washington, starting on July 31 for both the House and Senate.

Farmers are resourceful — sometimes by nature, but more often, by necessity. I was reminded of that one day when I decided to “clean up” my dad’s scrap pile on the farm.

I love celebrating the Fourth of July with my family every year. There’s nothing like a good, old-fashioned cookout and fellowship with loved ones.