IYFA: About Indiana Young Farmers' Association

A Remarkable History

The Indiana Young Farmers' Association was founded in 1962 and is dedicated to furthering the educational, recreational, social and personal opportunities of all individuals interested or involved in the agricultural industry.

As an organization coordinated through the Indiana Department of Education, IYFA works closely with the Indiana FFA at state and local levels.
IYFA also acts as an avenue for continuous educational experiences for high school students 16 years of age and older, so they can take full advantage of the possibilities available in the world of agriculture.
IYFA supports the needs of agricultural-based, rural communities by providing worth-while community services, effective leadership training and wholesome social and recreational activities for the entire family.
The goal of the IYFA is to train its members to be the leaders that can make a difference in their local community, their state, and their nation.

Our Mission

IYFA will provide opportunities for personal and professional growth through lifelong adult education, serving those who have a common interest in Indiana agriculture.

Planting the Seeds of Leadership

Planting seeds of leadership through a Young Farmer Chapter

You can assist young people in becoming established in farming and agribusiness and as leaders in their communities by organizing a Young Farmer Chapter.

The Young Farmer Chapter will provide support, encouragement, and opportunities for leadership, cooperation, community improvement, social and recreational activities. By starting a Young Farmer Chapter, you will meet the needs of young farmers and agribusiness people by helping them continue their agricultural education. Many receive agricultural education in high school, only to find no support of adult agriculture classes during a critical time in their lives: the moment they begin their own agricultural career.

Membership in the Young Farmer Chapter is open to anyone who is out of school and regularly enrolled in a Young Farmer Program taught by a teacher of agriculture education.

Getting Started

When starting a Young Farmer Chapter, you may contact the Indiana Young Farmers’ Association for guidance and resource materials. The following list has the first steps to take to begin your local Chapter:

Select 3 to 5 individuals to serve as the steering committee. Organize the chapter’s framework.
Invite potential members to a call-out meeting
Conduct first meeting - develop a local mission
Plan program of activities for the next year

Reaping the Benefits

Starting and working with a Young Farmer Chapter will yield self-satisfaction in the knowledge that you are providing support, education, and assistance to young farmers and agribusiness leaders. You will take pride in their success after working with them through the Young Farmer Chapter. A Young Farmer Chapter will also help build a stronger agricultural education system through organized community activities hosted by the Chapter. These activities provide an opportunity to not only educate young farmers and agribusiness people, but also the community as a whole.

By helping communities understand the challenges faced by today’s agricultural producers and businesses, you may gain additional support for your local agriculture education program.

Support

The Indiana Young Farmers’ Association will provide teachers with materials, information on professional development programs, conference information, community service information, and support for the Young Farmer Chapter. For more information, contact the Indiana Young Farmers’ Association.

You can yield satisfaction in knowing you are providing this opportunity for growth and career advancement to young farmers and agribusiness people.

Cultivating Community Service

The Indiana Young Farmers’ Association encourages Young Farmer Chapter members to become actively involved in community service. By participation in community events and through hosting activities, these events become a win-win situation. Members win support and the occasion to educate the community on the important role agriculture plays in society. The community wins through activities will improve their quality of life.

A Field of Opportunities

Many ideas for community service projects abound. The Indiana Young Farmers’ Association can provide ideas and materials to help in the planning of community service projects.

Some materials currently available include such activities as an Adopt-A-Class, Pizza Party, Agricultural Exchange, and Wheelbarrow Race for Hunger. Each activity provides members the opportunity to make agricultural education a fun learning experience.

Community Service Idea:

Making Pizza

One example of a community service activity is the Pizza Party. The purpose of this event is to provide information that will support the role of the agricultural community in providing food for the consumer. The pizza party can be held with a class in a local school or with a group in a business setting.

Members construct a pizza while chosen presenters discuss the ingredients and the origin of food with the audience. It provides the opportunity to help the consumer rethink and to realize the actual source of their food.

For ideas or materials on community service projects, contact the Indiana Young Farmers' Association at 317-232-9178

You can cultivate an attitude of community service and leadership through a variety of projects and activities which will provide the community with agricultural education.

Harvesting an Award-Winning Crop

The Indiana Young Farmers’ Association sponsors several awards and provides information on National Young Farmers’ Educational Association contests. These award competitions will provide members of the Young Farmer Chapter an opportunity to excel in leadership and agriculture and to be honored for their efforts. Awards are presented each year during the state convention.

Awards usually presented by the Indiana Young Farmers’ Association include:

Star Operation in Agriculture
Star Placement in Agriculture
Star Leadership Award
Star Improvement Project
Star Chapter
Star Chapter Safety Award
Ag Expressions (Essay) Contest
Farm Business Management
Spokesperson for Agriculture
Photo of Agriculture
EAA Degree (Education for American Agriculture)

National Young Farmers’ Educational Association contest usually include:

Ag Communication Award
Salute to Outstanding Young Beginning Producer (40 and under)
Salute to Outstanding Young Agribusiness Professional (40 and under)
Salute to Oustanding Agribusiness Professional (41 and over)
Salute to Outstanding Agriculture Producer (41 and over)
Ag Expressions
EAA Degree (Education for American Agriculture)-Scorecard Winner and Star Leader
Farm & Ranch Management

Local organizations and Young Farmer Chapters are also encouraged to host local competitions to allow members the opportunity to compete, become leaders, receive recognition, and to excel in their field of expertise.

Harvest an award winning crop of members by encouraging participation in local, state, and national agricultural competitions.

Members & Mentors Award

The Indiana Young Farmers’ Association (IYFA) provides an opportunity for members of the Young Farmer Chapter to participate in the National Young Farmers’ Educational Associations’ (NYFEA) Members & Mentors Award. Young people throughout the United States are invited to participate in the NYFEA at no cost for the first year, in a forward thinking, progressive agricultural education organization. Farm and agribusiness secrets are shared by current IYFA and NYFEA members who serve as mentors.

IYFA & NYFEA Goals

Several goals have been set by IYFA and NYFEA. They include providing increased exposure to agricultural education opportunities, leadership development for current members, and an endowment sufficient enough to allow individuals in every state to be invited to participate in a year of free trial NYFEA membership.

Reaping the Benefits

Along with a mentor, new members will receive regular updates on current issues in agriculture, training opportunities in leadership, community service and other programs. Members will be invited to the National Agriculture Leadership Conference and the NYFEA Institute. Other NYFEA programs are also made available to members.

Build awareness of the importance of local level membership and help provide organizational and individual training through mentors assigned to beginning farmer and agribusiness audiences.

A Remarkable History

Planting the Seeds of Leadership

Cultivating Community Service

Harvesting an Award-Winning Crop

Members & Mentors Award

Resources