Ways to Engage

Here are ways that you or your county Farm Bureau can engage in our advocacy process.

Sign Up for Text Action Alerts

Join our advocacy team! Help build a larger, stronger voice for agriculture. You play a critical role in ensuring elected officials know where farmers and ranchers stand on key issues.

Attend the Monthly Advocacy Call

Join us once a month for a 30-minute update and discussion on the latest issues and policy actions that could impact your farm or ranch. Learn how Farm Bureau is advocating for you and how you can help us protect and support Nebraska farm and ranch families. All members welcome! Dial (402) 204-8272 at 12:30 p.m. CT to join our call. 2023 Dates: Jan. 18; Feb. 8; Mar. 8; Apr. 12; May 10; June 14; July 12; Aug. 9; Sep. 6; Oct. 11; Nov. 8.

Schedule a Legislative Update Call

During the 2023 Legislative Session, Nebraska Farm Bureau’s public policy team is offering to provide a brief legislative update on the latest state and/or national issues and answer questions during your County Farm Bureau Board of Director meetings. Contact Whittney Kelley at (402) 421-4760 or at whittneyk@nefb.org to schedule a call today.

Attend a County Farm Bureau Day at the Capitol

Take your engagement to the next level and bring County Farm Bureau leaders to Lincoln for a “Day at the Capitol”. Don’t just watch the legislative process, be a part of it as you meet with your state senator, interact with influencers, and represent rural Nebraska. Contact Whittney Kelley at (402) 421-4760 or whittneyk@nefb.org to schedule.

Nebraska Farm Bureau’s Political Action Committee (NEFB-PAC) provides a way for Farm Bureau members to help candidates for state and national public office who support agriculture and rural communities. NEFB-PAC also provides an avenue for Farm Bureau members to support or oppose ballot initiatives that could positively or negatively affect farmers, ranchers and rural Nebraska. NEFB-PAC is funded entirely by voluntary contributions by Farm Bureau members. Donate to NEFB-PAC online here or contact Whittney Kelley at (402) 421-4760 to make a donation or send a check.

Tell Your Personal Story

It’s been said that “people buy from people they know, like, and trust.” There is no more impactful way to have that occur than through storytelling. The same applies in advocating for your position.

Stories powerfully connect us to others. When we share our own real-life stories or the stories of others, the people we are talking to get to know us as people – not just a random voice in the crowd.

When you meld stories with factual information, your influence and engagement becomes more powerful. It helps move people to action.

Example:

Fact-based argument:
“My property taxes have gone up 170 percent in the last 10 years. That’s not sustainable for my farm. Property taxes are now 20 percent of my operational costs. Residential taxes haven’t gone up that much. It’s not fair.”

Story/value based argument using facts:
“Our farm has been in our family for four generations. My youngest son is finishing up at the university next year. It’s always been his dream to come back to the farm. He wants to do this for a living. But the reality is we’re dealing with a depressed farm economy and our property tax bill just keeps going up with no end in sight. The taxes on our farm have gone up 170 percent in the last 10 years. I want what’s best for my son. How do I look at him and honestly tell him he should come back? To keep young people and young families in agriculture, we need to do something on property taxes. It’s influencing life decisions for him, our family, and other families like ours.”

Ways to Tell Your Story