Montgomery County Farm Bureau’s Lucas Oster Talks Harvest, Annual Meeting, and Why Ag Matters

Montgomery County Farm Bureau’s Lucas Oster Talks Harvest, Annual Meeting, and Why Ag Matters

 

 

Iowa Farm Bureau Annual Meeting – December 8-9 in Des Moines

The 2026 Iowa Farm Bureau Annual Meeting and County Leadership Conference is set for December 8 and 9 in Des Moines. Oster described it as a celebration of the county Farm Bureaus and the grassroots work that makes the organization effective. This year’s meeting also ties into America’s 250th anniversary and recognizes agriculture’s long role in the nation’s growth.

The event is open to all Farm Bureau members, not just county officers or voting delegates. Oster encouraged people who haven’t attended before to consider going, noting that one of the best parts is meeting members from other parts of Iowa and bringing ideas back home.

Tuesday, December 8

• Morning session with Jolene Brown on “Positives of Passing It On” (farm and business succession)

• County Farm Bureau Celebration lunch

• Afternoon breakout sessions on Farm Bureau culture, telling your county’s story, stronger meetings and teamwork, and having productive conversations about tougher agricultural issues

• Evening dinner recognizing Young Farmers Award winners, followed by a reception

Wednesday, December 9

• Breakfast and general session featuring Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson and keynote speaker Mark Lindquist (a U.S. Air Force veteran whose story includes being raised on a Minnesota farm after time in a South Korean orphanage)

• Additional educational sessions covering practical uses of artificial intelligence in agriculture, ag policy and the post-election outlook, farm and business succession, and global markets and competition

How to Register

Montgomery County members should contact the county office administrator, Tony, at 712-623-5546. Registration closes Friday, November 20. Members in other counties should contact their local Farm Bureau office.

Member Input and Why It Matters

Oster closed by highlighting how Farm Bureau stays grassroots. Members can review current issues and submit their own through the Member Input section at iowafarmbureau.com. Issues can cover crops and conservation, livestock, energy and transportation, taxation and rural vitality, education, trade, or other topics affecting agriculture and rural communities. Members simply identify the problem—they don’t have to have the solution.

He also pointed out that you don’t need thousands of acres to be a Farm Bureau member. In rural Iowa, agriculture affects nearly everyone, whether they farm or work in town. Local economies, jobs, fuel, and everyday life are all tied to it.