American Farm Bureau Federation

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In 1919, a small group of farmers from 30 states gathered in Chicago and founded the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF). Their goal – speaking for themselves through their own national organization. AFBF soon became the voice of agriculture at the national level, with an affiliate in each of the 50 states.

Farm Bureau is an independent, non-governmental, voluntary organization governed by and representing farm and ranch families united for the purpose of analyzing their problems and formulating action to achieve educational improvement, economic opportunity and social advancement and, thereby, to promote the national well-being. Farm Bureau is local, county, state, national and international in its scope and influence and is non-partisan, non-sectarian and non-secret in character.

"The purpose of Farm Bureau is to make the business of farming more profitable, and the community a better place to live. Farm Bureau should provide an organization in which members may secure the benefits of unified efforts in a way which could never be accomplished through individual effort." – Statement originally approved by Farm Bureau members in 1920.

While issues and challenges have changed for America's farmers and ranchers over the past eight decades, the mission and goals of Farm Bureau have remained true to that spirit. Farm Bureau members have become more vocal in speaking out on issues of concern for the nation's farmers and ranchers.

The American Farm Bureau Federation relocated its headquarters from Park Ridge, Ill., to Washington, D.C., in 2003.