The Zipline: Can’t make it to Puerto Rico? Join us online

The Farm Bureau family will gather in San Juan for our 104th annual convention in less than a month. While we wish everyone could join us there, we understand that not everyone can make it to Puerto Rico Jan. 6-11.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t join the fun and gain some valuable insights about agriculture and how to be a better leader in your community.

For the third year in a row, we are offering a virtual registration that includes all the general sessions, eight workshops and all the programming on the Cultivation Center Stage.

With a virtual registration, you can hear from Bert Jacobs, the co-founder and “chief executive optimist” of Life Is Good.

When he and his brother started their company, they had just $78 in their pockets and lived out of a van.

Jacobs doesn’t take his success for granted. He recognizes that while life is good, it’s not always perfect.

That’s why they donate 10% of their profits to help kids in need. His uplifting and optimistic keynote will be powerful as we prepare to face a new year.

You’ll also be able to hear from Big Kenny of Big & Rich. As a renowned artist, songwriter, and humanitarian, Big Kenny will share about his philanthropic outreach and efforts to end hunger, a goal shared by Farm Bureau, which farmers and ranchers play an integral part in achieving.

Like most of us, Big Kenny is always looking ahead, and he has long-term goals related to ending hunger that I’m looking forward to learning more about as we hear his inspiring remarks.

Virtual attendees will also have live access to every session on the Cultivation Center Stage. Throughout the convention, you’ll be able to tune into all of the educational, insightful and competitive event programming we have planned.

From the finals for the Young Farmer & Rancher Discussion Meet and the Ag Innovation Challenge to social media influencers and the hosts of the podcast Discover Ag, Tara Vander Dussen and Natalie Kovarik, there is something for everyone on the Cultivation Center Stage.

One of the highlights of any AFBF Convention is our outstanding workshops. While we couldn’t make all of them available online, we picked eight that would be the most valuable to virtual attendees.

Over the course of two sessions, you’ll be able to hear from our team of expert lobbyists on the outlook of the issues that matter most to farmers and ranchers in our nation’s capital.

Our economists will present the economic outlook for 2023, and we’ll look at all the moving pieces surrounding the 2023 farm bill.

Another session will provide some important tools for farmers and ranchers to utilize when dealing with anxiety and stress on the farm.

All the items I mentioned and so much more are available live and on-demand, for three months after convention ends, for just $25 — that’s quite a value to invest in yourself and your farm!

While I wish I could see each and every Farm Bureau member in San Juan, I’ll be happy to know that so many will be joining us from their homes, listening in from the tractor and enjoying our convention months after we leave Puerto Rico.

Find a full list of available workshops and register today at annualconvention.fb.org/virtual.