SANDY, Utah. December 12, 2025 – Members from Utah’s 28 County Farm Bureaus met recently in Provo to select leaders for the state’s largest farming and ranching organization. Delegates re-elected Cache County farmer ValJay Rigby as President of the Utah Farm Bureau Federation (UFBF). 

“I am humbled at the opportunity to continue serving this great organization and our industry. I look forward to representing our members to keep agriculture and the Farm Bureau strong. It’s a significant responsibility given the challenging nature of our industry, but I know that our other Farm Bureau leaders and I are up to the task,” Rigby said. “Farm Bureau is strong in advocating for agriculture everywhere because it is a true grassroots organization. We advocate not simply what a board wants, but more importantly, what is best for farmers and ranchers across the state.”

 Utah Farm Bureau President ValJay Rigby addresses the convention.

Rigby is a 5th-generation farmer from Newton, Cache County, who farms on land that was part of the original family homestead. Valjay farms alongside his brother and his children, growing approximately 1,500 acres of alfalfa, corn, safflower, and small grains, as well as a beef cattle herd. Rigby has a master’s degree in finance and a bachelor’s degree in information systems, both from Utah State University. He has also served as the Cache County Farm Bureau president, in addition to his local planning & zoning committee, local water company boards, and as a volunteer EMT and volunteer firefighter. 

Produce farmer Kenny McFarland from Weber County was elected to a term on the State Board of Directors for District 2 (Morgan, Summit, and Weber Counties). Russ Kohler, a dairy farmer and cheesemaker from Wasatch County, and Trevor Barnson, a cattle rancher from Piute County, were re-elected to the UFBF Board of Directors for Districts 4 and 6, respectively.

Dot Jensen of Box Elder County was re-elected to the Board of Directors in her role as chair of the Women’s Leadership Committee. Also re-elected were Stacey Wangsgard of Cache County for District 1 (Box Elder, Cache, and Rich Counties); Delaney Nalder of Davis County for District 3 (Davis, Salt Lake, and Tooele Counties); and Tiffany McConkie of Duchesne County for District 5 (Carbon, Daggett, Duchesne, Emery, Grand, San Juan, and Uintah Counties). Newly elected to the State Women’s Leadership Committee was Maryann Blake of Washington County for District 7 (Beaver, Iron, Kane, Millard, and Washington Counties).

Clayton & Dakota Rindlisbacher of Juab County were elected as the new chairs for the state Young Farmer & Rancher Committee (YF&R). Clayton was also selected to serve one term on the Utah Farm Bureau Board of Directors, as YF&R Chair. Three new couples were elected to serve on the State YF&R Committee, including Walker & Audree Bagley of Duchesne County for District 5, Kortney & Trevor Carlisle of Sevier County for District 6, and Easten & Esther Torgersen of Kane County for District 7. 

Russ Kohler of Wasatch County (standing) visits with members of District 4 during the convention.

Easton & Josey Harris of Sevier County were elected as the new Vice chairs for the state Young Farmer & Rancher Committee (YF&R). Two other couples were re-elected to serve on the State YF&R Committee, including Jared & Reganne Briggs of Rich County for District 1, and Mel & Jessica Pehrson of Tooele County for District 3.

Elected to the Utah Farm Bureau Promotions & Engagement (P&E) Committee were Daniel & Riata Cummings of Emery County for District 5. Those re-elected to the State P&E Committee included Justin & Amanda Noor of Box Elder County (Dist. 1), Paige & Chris Norton of Salt Lake County (Dist. 3), and Sherrie Tate of Washington County (Dist. 7). Callie Adam of Garfield County was selected to fill the remaining year on the committee for District 6, with Kortney Carlisle, who was elected to the State Young Farmer & Rancher Committee.

Voting delegates also addressed a wide range of policy issues, including positions on water, raw milk, tariffs, public land management, and more.