For over 100 years now, Farm Bureau has shone a light on rural America by giving farmers and ranchers a voice.
Throughout those 100 years, the Farm Bureau Federation has undergone numerous changes along the way.
Now, Union County is undergoing one of those changes, the transition of agency management as Paul Smith retires from his position.
Cody Brown, the new Union County Farm Bureau agency manager, started his career with farm bureau 10 years ago in Grainger County.
While this position is a promotion for Brown, it is much more than that. Brown is able to transition into a similar rural community while being able to bring new outlooks to the community.
“It is really no different, moving from Grainger County to Union, there are still the same types of people that I love to work with,” Brown said.
Brown originally wanted to go into coaching and even received a degree in education from the University of Tennessee. It was not until later that Brown decided he wanted to go into a sales position.
“Family and faith, that is what this company was founded off of,” Brown said.
Before Brown begins to talk with possible members or customers, he first wants to paint them a full picture of Farm Bureau. He wants to make sure they understand the numerous sectors of the federation and how they can benefit from them.
Whether that be through conferences, young farmers and ranchers, community activities such as board membership or the annual scholarship they give to graduating high school students.
Brown put it best when he said that Farm Bureau is the voice of agriculture across the state of Tennessee.
Farm Bureau provides a voice for farmers and ranchers through policy meetings and collaborative meetings with other agriculture stakeholders in the state in order to provide the best outcome for their members.
Every year, around the late summer months, the East Tennessee Farm Bureau agencies meet in order to look over the policies that East Tennessee wants to collaboratively send into our legislature.
Farm Bureau strives to promote the things that rural Tennessee wants to see change in order to produce better outcomes such as higher income and better job possibilities for the farming community.
“Farm Bureau will give you the best service you can get,” Brown said.
During the first few years of Brown’s career here in Union County, he hopes to first grow the business while at the same time promoting community involvement. Whether that be supporting the county sports teams, 4 H or related agriculture community.
Secondly, Union County Farm Bureau strives to have a strong presence in the classroom through the “ag in the classroom” program as well as through the annual scholarship program.
In terms of the local Farm Bureau board, there are some changes coming in the foreseeable future as some board members will be retiring from their positions in the coming years. With this comes the need for new board members.
Brown encourages anyone interested in the board to come talk to him or others in order to learn more and gain that foot in the door.
Community members are welcome to visit with farm bureau agents as well as board members at their numerous meetings throughout the year that are held at the Union County Farm Bureau office.
For more information on those meetings or how to become involved, community members can contact the county’s office at (865) 992-3871.