Brent Johnson on Leading Iowa Agriculture Through Change and Challenges in 2025

Born into farming and drawn back to the family farm in Manson, Iowa, after years in college and in the workforce, Brent Johnson has been doing double-duty as farmer and president of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation.

Initially wanting to stay on his family farm, Johnson’s parents encouraged him to get an education, which led to an agronomy degree from Iowa State University. He has also started an independent crop consulting business. In December 2023, Johnson spoke with Successful Farming magazine about his education and how it has helped him advance his family farm and how he manages being an Iowa agricultural leader.

One year later, in December 2024, SF spoke to Johnson again to catch up on how the year went for the IFBF, finding his voice, and what he is focusing on in 2025 as the second Trump administration begins.

SF: As you’ve gained experience in this role, what did you learn in 2024?

BJ: Well there’s been so many unique things and it’s such a complicated organization. From the insurance side, there are challenges with what’s going on in the business sector, in navigating never-before experiences, and our membership side and our policy side. Farming incomes are down, a burden that has been felt this year. It’s unique. It hasn’t happened like this in the past. To captain an organization like this one, it’s a unique space, but at the same time, we have so many wins, so many good things to come out of that. Our membership story really sheds a light on where we’re at and what we’re doing. 

To grow well over 4,000 members in a single year — typically we grow 200 to 300. And now this year we grew 4,000. I think that shows that we’re doing some things the right way. It’s not all me. It’s our engaged members. It’s that unified voice. Our board of directors is fantastic. They’re very talented. What the staff is doing is incredible. I wouldn’t put them second fiddle to anybody. They are incredible. So you put all those pieces together and it’s honestly an exciting time for agriculture. I think that’s where we’re at. I think we understand some of the challenges. They’re out of our control. Some of them we can manage to some degree, but I think everybody’s excited to look forward.

SF: Another year of double-dipping time between the family farm and the IFBF. Does it get any easier?

BJ: No [laughs]. It does not get any easier, but I firmly believe that I’m here to be a farmer.  That’s my purpose of being around and to be a fifth-generation farmer. There’s a lot of pride, but there’s a lot of humility in the same thing. Knowing that my ancestors navigated probably more severe challenges than I did — and to carry on that farming legacy, I mean, that’s really where my roots are. That’s where my heart is. To serve dual roles, yeah, my life’s complicated, but that doesn’t matter. You know, Zippy [Duvall, American Farm Bureau Federation President] said it, and I wish I would’ve come up with the line, but if there’s a sacrifice to be had, it’s when I turn out of the farm at home, head down the gravel road on my way to serve our members — it’s not a sacrifice. I am proud to serve both. It’s a challenge. I’m so excited. I’m energized. I’m ready for more, but at the same time, it’s not easy. My wife is an incredible person. She puts up with so much stuff, and I honestly couldn’t do it without her and my other family members.

SF: Have you been able to find a voice these past couple years you talking with the AFBF?

It’s my job to figure out how and when to say what. he strength behind that is our membership. When Zippy was talking last night about twisting his arm, what he was referring to was interstate commerce Proposition 12. My members have given me the challenge to be a strong voice when it comes to that specific area. It impacts our state greatly and our producers dramatically. I accept the challenge, and I do spend time with Zippy and, and other leaders across the country defending interstate commerce. That’s what he was referring to. It’s like I said, it’s my job to navigate how hard I twist his arm when I twist his arm, what I say, and who are our other strategic partners around the country that I can get on the bandwagon to make sure that this is the right message, the right voice, and the right time to deal with this issue on a national scene.

SF: What are things you’re looking forward to at the IFBF in 2025?

BJ: Well, 2025 will show itself in its own way. As I’m preparing forward, some of those same messages: making sure that our programming fits the challenges of today’s agriculture. Are we appropriate or do we need to make some refinements? I don’t know the answer to that question, but we need to stay in tune with the needs of our members as we navigate these things. On the policy side, certainly the Farm Bill is to be the top priority when it comes to production agriculture here in Iowa — getting it modernized.

Today’s Farm Bill is just frankly outdated. To get that modernized, to make sure that our tools are in place, and the potential of dealing with interstate commerce and Proposition 12 within that framework, that’s all going to become very important. In production agriculture in Iowa, we’re at a point where we can reset, grab our traction again, and take another leap forward.