The American Farm Bureau Federation announced a slate of top state Farm Bureau communications projects during the 2026 Communications Awards, held at this year’s Communications Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. The competition recognizes state Farm Bureau professionals for their exemplary work in communicating about agriculture.

Nearly 200 entries for work produced in 2025 were submitted for the 2026 contest. Judged against states with similar membership sizes, California, Iowa, Illinois, Texas and Wisconsin stood out, receiving the most awards overall. Among 18 categories, states could submit one entry per category in the areas of writing, print, media relations, social media, graphic design, video, audio and website.

“State Farm Bureau communicators play a vital role in sharing the stories of farmers and ranchers across the nation and helping Farm Bureau fulfill its mission as the Voice of Agriculture,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “I’m proud to congratulate the winning teams for their remarkable work to highlight the issues facing agriculture and rural America. My thanks to all those who work diligently to amplify the challenges and triumphs of America’s farmers and ranchers.”

Awards were presented to Farm Bureau communicators in: California, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin.

Utah Farm Bureau was recognized by the American Farm Bureau for its media relations.

Award categories were evaluated by independent, experienced professionals in the field. A list of award winners follows. Most award categories were divided into two groups – one for small membership states and one for larger membership states. Utah Farm Bureau was recognized for Best Media Relations among smaller states.