Celebrating 100 Years

Since 1917, we’ve been making the impossible, possible for Nebraska farmers, ranchers and agriculture. In a business where margins are everything and profitability is determined by the weather, markets, regulations, politics, and everything in between, it’s good to have a friend looking out for you.

For 100 years, Nebraska Farm Bureau has been that friend to farmers and ranchers; bringing them together to discuss challenges, identify solutions and to advocate on issues they’ve determined are critical to keeping current and future generations on the land. The Nebraska Farm Bureau has become the public face of Nebraska agriculture. And we're just getting started.

 

Centennial Facts

  • 1917

    Nebraska Farm Bureau's first legislative effort was to solve the growing grasshopper problem.

  • 1917

    Harry Keefe was the founder of the first County Farm Bureau in Thurston County and with more than 300 members he was elected the first president of the state organization.

  • 1922 & 1934

    Charles Yoder (CY) Thompson was elected as president of Nebraska Farm Bureau in 1922 and again in 1934. He served 24 years on the University Board of Regents and his name is on the library on east campus.

  • 1926

    Nellie Benson was the first woman president of Nebraska Farm Bureau from Polk County Farm Bureau.

  • 1935

    Nebraska Farm Bureau was part of an effort to keep the lights on in rural Nebraska by supporting the Rural Electrification Act of 1935.

  • 1948

    The Nebraska Farm Bureau delegates authorized the Federation to create a property and Casualty insurance company.

  • 1950

    Nebraska Farm Bureau’s affiliation with extension ends. By 1953 all except Dundy and Deuel counties had separated.

  • 1951

    Nebraska Farm Bureau supported the Nebraska Rural Radio Association, and encouraged Farm Bureau members to purchase a membership in this farmer-owned and controlled radio.

  • 1950's

    Nebraska Farm Bureaus ends its affiliation with Extension.

  • 1959

    Burt County held the highest membership in Nebraska Farm Bureau with 776 member families. Eighty-Seven County Farm Bureaus were established by 1966.

  • 1962

    Membership dues were $20 dollars. A membership to the Nebraska Farm Bureau was the biggest benefit and value a farmer or rancher could find. And it still is!

  • 1972

    The Ag 40 group was created and was instrumental in creating IANR. Ag 40 was created to protect the College of Agriculture.

  • 1976

    Nebraska Farm Bureau membership soared to more than 20,000 and Keya Paha County became the 88th County Farm Bureau in Nebraska.

  • 1981

    Nebraska Farm Bureau has a new president in Bryce Neidig of Madison County. He would be the second to longest president to serve the organization.

  • 1985

    NFBF-PAC was created to endorse legislative candidates.

  • 1989

    The Silver Eagle Award was established to those who demonstrated a commitment to promoting and improving agriculture. Virginia Smith was the first recipient.

  • 1989

    Nebraska Farm Bureau increased its involvement in the Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom program when it signed a contract with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture to manage the program.

  • 1996

    Nebraska Farm Bureau and Farm Bureau Insurance Company of Nebraska broke ground for a new building in Lincoln.

  • 1998

    EPA released its Animal Feeding Operations (AFO) strategy and the Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) guidelines. NFBF fights for commonsense livestock waste regulations.

  • 2002

    Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Companies in Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa merged companies. By 2003 five other state Farm Bureaus also merged to create an eight-state property and casualty company.

  • 2005

    Former NFBF President Keith Olsen went on a trade mission to Cuba and met with then Cuban President Fidel Castro.

  • 2005

    The Nebraska State Fair moves to its new home from Lincoln to Grand Island.

  • 2011

    Steve Nelson from Axtell becomes NFBF’s 15th president.

  • 2012

    The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation was created to engage youth, educators and the public to promote an understanding of the importance of agriculture.

  • 2017

    Nebraska Farm Bureau enters this decade as a vital, active, problem solving, member-serving organization. They are proud of its past, committed to solving the problems of the future and to serving members and agriculture.