Four times. That’s the minimum number of times voting delegates have discussed Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation state policy. For national policy, it is a minimum of six times voting delegates have worked the policy. 

Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation President Todd Fornstrom relates the policy development season to harvest season. As a farmer and a leader in this organization, he knows what it takes to harvest crops and harvest agriculture policy. His harvest analogy puts into perspective the amount of work it takes to turn a policy recommendation into a policy.  

Like harvest, the grassroots policy development process is a season. A process that begins with local member input at county meetings in the summer and fall and continues through the district, state and national levels. Voting delegates at all levels discuss the merits of the policy recommendations and how they would impact agriculture. The final step in the grassroots policy development process was completed January 13 when voting delegates approved policy at the American Farm Bureau Convention. 

Like harvest, the grassroots policy development process results in a product. A member-driven product that drives the work of the organization—the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation Policy Book for state issues and the American Farm Bureau Federation Policy Book for national issues.  

Policy implementation is key to our mission. We embed our policy priorities in the work we do each day on the legislative and regulatory fronts. We hit the ground running in 2026 including comments on the new WOTUS rule and preparing for the 2026 Wyoming Legislative Session which convenes on February 9.  

Private property rights are the foundation upon which WyFB policy priorities are set. We believe in private property rights, upholding constitutional government and advancing a free market economy with a commitment to individual freedom. Private property rights, water, land use, wildfire management, fiscal responsibility, tax policy, labor reform, rural vitality and election integrity are the key policy areas identified in 2026 WyFB priorities. Read more about our 2026 policy priorities in this issue or visit our website and click the “Advocacy” tab. 

Our capacity to impact agriculture begins anew each year with the rewards of your policy development harvest…the process that is the strength of our organization. We have much to do in 2026 to continue our work to strengthen Wyoming agriculture.