2026 Voice of Ag Conference to celebrate 40 years of P&E advocacy, education

As Michigan Farm Bureau prepares to celebrate 40 years of Promotion & Education, members from across the state are invited to come together to celebrate at the 2026 Voice of Agriculture Conference. Next year’s event, themed “Bridging Voices: Spanning 40 Years,” takes place Jan. 23-24 in Southfield, and will feature:

• Dynamic keynote speakers
• Workshops & breakout sessions
• Tours
• Networking
• Celebratory banquets

We are excited to welcome Brandi Buzzard and Michelle Payn, who bring deep insight and powerful stories to the conference stage:

• Buzzard is a Kansas cowgirl, wife, mama, rancher, runner and lifelong sports fanatic who has built her life around agriculture. Raised with a rope in her hand and a love for livestock, Buzzard spent her childhood helping her dad and grandpa in feedlots, showing cattle and hogs, and learning firsthand the grit and grace it takes to work the land. She has spent more than 15 years speaking up for agriculture. In 2019, she was selected as a Top-10 Industry Leader Under 40 by Cattle Business Weekly as well as the NCBA Masters of Beef Advocacy Advocate of the Year. She has spoken on MSNBC, FOX, CBS, The Weather Channel and Newsy addressing issues such as conservation, beef sustainability and nutrition. She has also visited the White House and spoken to senior White House officials about agriculture and sustainability.
• Payn is a speaker and founder of Cause Matters Corp., who brings clarity and common sense to the conversations surrounding food, farming and science. Whether it’s helping farmers and scientists communicate more effectively, tackling food misinformation, or addressing mental health in agriculture, Payn moves people to think differently. She connects the people and science of food and farming, and is known for being a community catalyst, a passionate advocate for global agriculture, and for encouraging people into taking action. She has worked with farmers in more than 25 countries, raised millions of dollars for 4-H & FFA, and founded AgChat and FoodChat on Twitter.

Whether you’ve been part of P&E since its early days or you’re just starting out in agricultural outreach, the 2026 Voice of Agriculture Conference is your invitation to connect across generations, celebrate shared successes, and help set the course for the next era of Michigan agricultural communication.

Learn more about the Voice of Agriculture Conference online. If you are interested in attending, please complete the interest form (your information will be shared with your county Farm Bureau).