January 16, 2026
www.gfb.org
Vol. 8 No. 1
AFBF CONVENTION CELEBRATES WINS, INSPIRES FARMERS & RANCHERS Following the theme, “Imagine, Grow, Lead,” the 107th American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) convention featured addresses from AFBF President Zippy Duvall, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow. The event, held in Anaheim, California, included national Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) competitions, featured a wide variety of farm seminars, celebrated Farm Bureau achievements at the state and national levels and much more. Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) had members elected to leadership roles on the AFBF YF&R and Women’s Leadership Committees (WLC). Hardy, Jackson, on AFBF committees Cleve Jackson of Floyd County was named vice chairman of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Committee for 2026, and Julie Hardy of Thomas County was elected to a two-year term on the AFBF Women’s Leadership Committee (WLC). Hardy ran against ladies from North Carolina and Virginia to be elected as the Southern Region representative on the AFBF WLC during the annual meeting of American Farm Bureau Women on Jan. 10. Hardy completed her one-year term as chairwoman of the GFB WLC Committee in December and is serving as an ex officio member of the GFB committee. Hardy is the first Georgian on the AFBF WLC since 2001when Peggy Smith of Turner County, who chaired the GFB WLC in 1993 and 2001, served a one-year term on the AFBF Women’s Committee in 2001 as the AFBF Southern Region representative. Bertie Mae McDonald of Washington County, who chaired the GFB Women’s Committee from 1981-1986, became the first GFB member to serve on the AFBF Women’s Committee in 1984. McDonald represented AFBF’s Southern Region on the national committee through the 1990 AFBF convention. Hardy farms in partnership with her father, Bobby Hurst, and her brother, Bert Hurst. The family grows cotton, peanuts, soybeans and wheat and run a small herd of beef cattle. She and her husband, Robby Hardy, have one daughter, Kate. Hardy is an active member of the Thomas County Farm Bureau and is the TCFB vice president. She is a 2023 graduate of the American Farm Bureau Federation Communications Boot Camp.