The Middle Park Farm Bureau invites the Grand County community to its next board meeting on Oct. 18. Community members who are in the farming and ranching industry, or who just want to learn more, can attend the meeting at the CSU Extension Hall in Kremmling, at 11 a.m.

Farming and ranching take lots of work; whether you have a commercial livestock operation or a small property to raise produce. Good news — no matter how large or small you are — you’re welcome to join the farm bureau.

Jayde Van Cleave, Colorado Farm Bureau‘s director of organization and leadership development, said that the nonprofit organization supports agriculture through benefits for its members, as well as advocating for policies such as protecting water.

“We encompass everything, from cattle to corn; all the way down to bees, fish, mushrooms,” he explained. “You name it — if you grow it or raise it, we help support that.”

What is a farm bureau?

“We lead the way in promoting, strengthening and advocating for agriculture. Our federation is a truly grassroots type of organization,” Van Cleave said.

Farm bureaus, like the one representing Middle Park, start when farming and ranching families gather together to begin their own bureau for their county.

45 county-level farm bureaus exist across the 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. Each county is part of their state’s farm bureau. The Middle Park bureau, based in Grand County, is part of the Colorado Farm Bureau Federation.

“When it comes to farm and ranch families and people that are involved in agriculture, or maybe even have a passion about agriculture, we’re a voice for all of those people,” said Van Cleave.

A person may join a farm bureau to simply receive benefits for their personal operation, or to become eligible for insurance.

The Farm Bureau Federation has a related organization: Farm Bureau Insurance. Members can get coverage for their vehicles, homes and more.

Amber Holleman is the Grand County insurance agent for Farm Bureau Insurance. 

Others may join the bureau to be more involved; for example, as a voting board member, or to take charge of advocating for policies that affect agriculture such a water right or private property rights.

Members can bring up policies at their county level, then it is voted on and can go to the state level.

“It gives those members a chance to have … a voice in the organization, which we believe is super powerful,” Van Cleave said. “It’s a slow process, but it’s very impactful for those individual farmers and ranchers and their communities, because it starts at the local level.”