Growing Together: Conversation with Zippy Duvall, President, American Farm Bureau Federation

Zippy Duvall leads the American Farm Bureau Federation, serving as president for nearly a decade. He is a third-generation farmer from Georgia. He and his son operate a beef cow herd, raise broiler chickens, and are continuing to restore the farmland that has been in the family for more than 90 years. Through his leadership, Duvall helped to shape the 2018 farm bill and is working to ensure Congress passes a new, modernized farm bill that effectively supports farmers and ranchers.

How did your 4-H experience while growing up impact your path to leadership?

4-H was one of the first opportunities where I was able to get outside the fencerows of our family farm. From hands-on learning with my 4-H projects to the relationship building within my club and community, I gained leadership skills I still use every day. It was also during my time in 4-H where I first understood the value of relationships and how they play into success for ourselves and those around us.

How do the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) key priorities align with or benefit from land-grant universities’ research, education, and/or Cooperative Extension programs?

At Farm Bureau, we strongly support both agricultural research and Cooperative Extension. We also advocate for the advancement and further investment in agricultural research within our efforts to secure a new, modernized farm bill. America is falling behind in terms of public investments in agriculture research, and in order to compete and keep our leading edge, we need to make sure that our land-grants and Cooperative Extension programs have the necessary tools and resources.

How have colleges of agriculture and natural resources at land-grant universities helped AFBF strengthen its impact and serve your stakeholders?

In addition to the many advancements in technology and practice we have gained from their research, Farm Bureau sees our land-grant universities as partners and an essential piece in answering the challenges facing agriculture. These programs help us answer the tough questions, provide supplemental research to agricultural policies, and support our grassroots members with tailored resources.  

As a national organization serving all 50 states and Puerto Rico, Farm Bureau also has countless number of alumni from our land-grant universities who serve as volunteer leaders, give back to their communities, and strengthen our organization on every level.  

Research: If you could ask agricultural researchers for help with one critical issue, what would it be?

Many of the advancements we have seen in agriculture are thanks to the research and innovation done through our land-grant universities and Cooperative Extension programs. As we have to meet the need of feeding more people with fewer acres, we are counting on them and their research to find more ways to help keep our business efficient and our nation's food supply safe, sustainable and secure.

Education: What kinds of student experiences (e.g., academics, internships, projects) are important to prepare students for the agricultural workforce?

The value of any student experience, whether it be an internship, leadership role or research project, comes down to the experience they gain from it. Classroom education is great, and when paired with hands-on or real-world experience, it guides students to find their exact path and prepares them to join the workforce. Agriculture is always evolving, and we need our next leaders ready to think critically, bring new ideas and adapt quickly for whatever tomorrow may hold.

What advice would you give to today’s college students?

The advice I would give to our current and future college students is to stay open-minded about your future. Agriculture is a broad field, and there are countless career opportunities. Whether you plan to return to the farm, want to work in a research lab, become an engineer, or have a passion to serve your community, you have a place in agriculture. There are many challenges on the horizon for agriculture, and we will need everyone – we need you – to help us continue providing the food, fiber and renewable fuel we all rely on.

Cooperative Extension: How can Extension provide the most value to your stakeholders in local communities across the U.S?

Since its creation, our Extension Education systems have played a vital role in further education and keeping a pulse on what is happening in our local communities. Our Extension agents serve as boots on the ground, plugged into the community and finding the unique way to best serve their fellow neighbors. As a grassroots organization, Farm Bureau knows the importance of each rural community having unique resources and the platform to make their voices heard on the local, state and national level. Agriculture is best served and advanced when we approach it from the ground up and always ensure that every farm and community have a seat at the table.

What are strong opportunities for increased collaboration between AFBF and land-grant universities partners?

There is always an opportunity when it comes to the advancement of agricultural innovation and strengthening the relationships between our communities and research. Whether it’s local trials such as soil sampling, policy-oriented research or collaborative events and programs, these partnerships build strong connections that help us all advance. Additionally, the closer we align the work being done at our land-grant universities and challenges faced by our farm families, the more resilient American agriculture becomes.

Many of our state and local Farm Bureaus already work closely with their land-grants and Cooperative Extension programs, and we look forward to continuing to work together to build a sustainable future of safe and abundant food, fiber and renewable fuel for our nation and the world.

“Growing Together: Conversations with CEOs” showcases Presidents and CEOs of national agricultural associations, commodity groups, and other organizations and explores their powerful synergies with land-grant universities. Through conversations with leaders, this new interview series examines how organizations strengthened their impact in partnerships with Colleges of Agriculture and Natural Resources’ research, education, and Cooperative Extension. These interviews also highlight emerging opportunities to leverage collaboration, drive innovation, and serve all Americans.