MEET EMILY JOHNSON

New YFA Chair Hopes to Plant the Seed and Harvest

More Leaders By Amy Eckelberg

Emily Johnson thinks her hobby of gardening and canning continues to be a strong piece of the farm’s history. is unusual for someone her age. The 27-year-old enjoys it Emily grew up as the calf feeder on the farm but slowly not only because it’s something she does with family but also learned more about Wisconsin’s diverse agricultural community because it’s something she can see from start to finish or in her with her other jobs. words, “seed to harvest.” “I didn’t grow up in FFA or 4-H. My ag experience is solely

The hobby not only preserves food but also is a way she can from working on our farm, the nearby strawberry farm and the preserve her family’s way of life that she admires. local Sentry grocery store,” Emily shared. “I kind of smile now

“I like canning because I get to do it with my mom and thinking about the conversations I could have been having with grandma,” said Emily. “I get to hear lots of old stories and just the shoppers at the store about their food purchases.” spend time with them. It’s special.” Emily works as a crop insurance

The farm Emily grew up on is specialist at State Bank of Cross located west of Janesville. Her parents, Plains, formally known as Union Bank Dan and Carolyn live in the house and Trust. where her grandfather was born. On “I went to school for finance at the farm’s 180 acres, they grow corn, UW-Whitewater,” Emily explained. “I soybeans and alfalfa. During her was told many times by my parents’ ag childhood, they raised Holstein steers lender, Craig O’Leary, that I needed but have since stopped raising animals to work in agriculture. He would say, in high capacity. She has two brothers, Ethan and Caleb, who still help on the farm as needed. Ethan and his wife, Alissa, are expecting their first child and raise beef cattle. SUPPLIED PHOTO Emily shared this photo of her family. (from left): Ethan, Caleb, Carolyn, Dan, Emily, Alissa. ‘we need more farm kids like you in these jobs.’” In 2014, when a summer agricultural internship was offered, Emily applied and was hired. She worked with agricultural lenders and learned more

“To me, farm means family,” Emily explained. “It’s just how about crop insurance and the insurance industry in general. I grew up. Everyone chips in and it’s truly a family affair. My “I develop individualized risk management plans for farmers,” parents wanted to farm and have a close family. I aspire to be Emily shared. “I help them understand how to use insurance as like them someday because they work hard and have a strong a tool, especially for when times are volatile. For example, you faith and marriage. They truly have a beautiful life.” buy homeowners insurance for the risk of your house burning

You can see the pride Emily has in her farming roots when down but you don’t believe it will. To me, crop insurance is asked about her sole piece of farming equipment. She is the even more important because you are working with Mother fourth-generation owner of the family’s Farmall 300. The Nature and the commodity markets. There is so much to tractor was bought new in 1957 by her great-grandpa and protect against.”

Emily admits that getting to know her customers, and being a farm kid, allows her to understand how much is at stake.

“You are definitely there during their good times and bad.”

Being young in her career, Emily has an interesting perspective on her industry.

“My coworkers have seen highs and lows, but I’ve only seen the lows,” she explained.

She is optimistic that this year might be different than last year. Last fall she noticed that her clients’ spending started changing slightly and there is a focus on renting more land again.

“I am hopeful,” she said. “Farmers have been pushed to their limit of optimism the past few years.”

Farm Bureau has been an outlet for Emily and others to share frustrations and encouragement. She is thankful for the organization’s networking opportunities.

“I was told about Farm Bureau by Jessica Sarbacker,” said Emily. “She told me as a finance major trying to start in an ag-related career it would help me connect to people. She told me Rock County had a strong Young Farmer and Agriculturist program and that I should check it out.”

She quickly signed up and showed up at a YFA event thanks to Erin Grawe and Megan Daluge.

She laughed as she recalled the first encounter, explaining she walked straight to them and said, “Hi I’m Emily, and I just joined Farm Bureau.” She added, “My Farm Bureau involvement escalated quickly. In June, I didn’t know anything about Farm Bureau, except they had a food stand at the fair. By September, I was on the county board as the YFA chair. In December, I attended the WFBF Annual Meeting and YFA Conference because of Rural Mutual’s conference sponsorship.” While at the YFA Conference, Emily vividly remembers feeling inspired by retiring YFA chair Andrea Brossard’s speech.

“Right then I knew I wanted to be like her and inspire people as she inspired me at that moment. I instantly started asking about the state YFA Committee and hoped that serving as chair would be in the cards someday.”

Emily enjoys that Farm Bureau helps you easily connect with many different types of people. But, even more so she appreciates the leadership development opportunities.

She graduated from Class X of the WFBF Leadership Institute with a better understanding of how to communicate with people outside of agriculture and insurance.

“It was important to learn how to talk about agriculture on a level that anyone can understand,” she stated. “When you grow up on a farm, you don’t know that the general public doesn’t understand what you are talking about.”

Her favorite experience thus far has been the capstone event of the WFBF Leadership Institute, the Washington, D.C. Fly-In.

“It was a surreal experience to talk about crop insurance with Senator Ron Johnson,” she said. “I knew what I was talking about and had grown a level of confidence in sharing what I knew to be true.”

Newly elected as the Wisconsin YFA chair, Emily knows there is a lot at stake.

“We need to take what we learned last year - a year of struggle - to come back stronger and move forward.”

She hopes to bring people together in 2021 in some way and sees opportunities ahead for young members to band together and help each other out.

“If we have learned anything,” she said, “it’s that we need people. We can’t go it alone. We need to be together and work together.”

She believes that young leaders are a crucial part of Farm

Bureau, and she sees YFA as the seed in getting people where they want to go. Like gardening, the cultivating of young leaders is a process she can watch and appreciate.

Emily added, "The YFA program is a community that grows leaders and friendship. Without the unified voice that

Farm Bureau gives us, what do we have?”

Emily shared this photo of her mom and grandma Rosemary Pakes canning grape juice. Emily enjoys spending time with them gardening and canning.

Emily stood in front of the Capitol during her trip to Washington, D.C. in 2018.

What is YFA?

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmer and Agriculturist program is for members between 18 and 35 years old. The YFA program offers opportunities for leadership and skills development, along with the chance to meet and network with peers.

Why YFA?

It provides members with an opportunity to enhance their leadership skills while networking with their peers. Many of the young members who have participated in the program have gone on to become active county, state and national Farm Bureau leaders, as well as respected leaders in their communities.

What is

Leadership Institute?

The WFBF Leadership Institute is a year-long, premier leadership training course with the mission to develop strong and effective county Farm Bureau leaders.

Why

Participate?

• Develop and refine your follower and leader skills. • Learn from experts, exchange ideas and gain confidence. • Improve your communication and speaking skills. • Learn how to craft an effective agriculture message and work with media. • Develop friendships and find creative solutions to challenges through teamwork. • Explore domestic and international agricultural issues. • Join in the political process at the local, state and national levels.

PHOTO BY LYNN SIEKMANN

YOU DON'T NEED LUCK TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE BENEFITS

For complete details, visit wfbf.com/membership/member-benefits.

Farm Bureau members who are agricultural producers and patrons of their local FS cooperative are eligible to receive patronage when patronage is paid.

Members receive an incentive discount (up to $500) when purchasing qualifying Case IH equipment from participating dealers.

Members qualify for a variety of discounts on new purchases. Visit wfbf.com to print your certificate and for details on models and discounts. Take advantage of Farm Bureau Bank's FDIC-insured checking, savings and money market accounts, certificates of deposit, credit cards and vehicle and home loans. Visit farmbureau.bank.

You can get more information about the services Farm Bureau Financial offers from your local Rural Insurance agent. Learn more at fbfs.com.

Rural Mutual

Insurance Company To find a Rural Mutual Insurance Company agent, visit ruralmutual.com or call 877.219.9550.

Save up to 80% on Office Depot Preferred Products along with reduced prices on ink, paper, toner, stamps/daters, pens, pads, furniture and much more. Special member pricing and free shipping. Visit wfbf.com for more details.

Through an exclusive program offered by Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, Farm Bureau members receive a factory direct rebate of $250* on the purchase of a new *Yamaha 4WD ATV, Side-by-Side or Snowmobile. Fill out the rebate form at bit.ly/3inykme. You need your Farm Bureau member number to complete the form.

*You must be a paid Wisconsin Farm Bureau member at time of purchase to receive the $250 rebate.

Members are eligible for a complimentary John Deere Rewards upgrade (Platinum 1 status) – which unlocks the best loyalty rewards including valuable equipment discounts. Visit JohnDeere.com/FarmBureau today to register!

Accidental Death Policy • AgriVisor • Life Line Screening • Avis • Budget • Ford • ScriptSave • $500 Reward Protection Program Choice Hotels • AgriPlan Medical Reimbursement Program • Office Depot • Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Visit wfbf.com to find out more about your membership benefits! *WFBF member benefits may be changed or discontinued at anytime without notice.*

MEMBERSHIP

Dunn County Member Saves with Yamaha

In December, Dunn County Farm Bureau member Steve Baier purchased a new Yamaha from Plum City Service in Pierce County. He chose a Wolverine RMAX 2 1000 Side-by-Side to travel around his dairy farm. Steve knew about the $250 Yamaha rebate offered through his Farm Bureau membership. After returning home from the dealership, applying for his rebate check was easy. He visited wfbf.com/membership/memberbenefits and clicked on the rebate form link, entered his Farm Bureau member number, vehicle identification number from his new purchase, email address, state and indicated whether it was for business or personal use. Steve hit submit and his rebate check arrived in his mailbox. "The $250 rebate check I received after I purchased my Yamaha Side-by-Side was a great perk of being a Farm Bureau member," Steve said. "The rebate was easy to redeem."

The Yamaha rebate is valid on the purchase of a new *Yamaha 4WD ATV, Side-by-Side or Snowmobile. Restrictions apply; for additional details contact your local Yamaha Motorsports dealer. Please allow six to eight weeks for your rebate check to arrive.

*Program excludes all youth models. **You must be a paid Wisconsin Farm Bureau member at the time of purchase to receive the $250 factory direct rebate. ***You will need your Farm Bureau membership number to complete the form.