The American Farm Bureau Federation will present one of its highest honors, the Farm Bureau Founders Award, to Terry Gilbert, former chair of AFBF’s Women’s Leadership Committee, during the 2022 American Farm Bureau Convention, Jan. 7-12 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Established in January 2017, the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Founders Award for exemplary leadership, service or contributions to Farm Bureau is presented in recognition of outstanding achievements and work in the interest of Farm Bureau.

Gilbert began her Farm Bureau leadership in 1980, as a member of the Boyle County (Kentucky) Women’s Committee, later serving as secretary of her county Farm Bureau board of directors for 16 years starting in 2004. She went on to serve as a member of the Kentucky Farm Bureau Women’s Advisory Committee from 1985-2015 and chaired the KFB Women’s Committee from 1993-1995. She served on the KFB board of directors from 1993-2015 and on the KFB Insurance board from 2001-2015. On the national level, she was a member of AFBF’s Rural Health & Safety Committee from 1990-1992 and chaired AFBF’s Women’s Leadership Committee from 2001-2015, representing the WLC on the AFBF board of directors during that time.

“I am humbled and thankful for this honor,” said Gilbert. “This recognition would not be possible without the incredible women I have had the privilege to work with and learn from over the years. That extends from my local county Farm Bureau to Kentucky Farm Bureau and other states, as well as members of the American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee.” 

Gilbert represented AFBF for three terms on the board of the Agriculture Council of America, the organization that plans National Agriculture Day activities in Washington, D.C.  She also served on the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture board from 2006-2012.

According to Isabella Chism, chair of AFBF’s Women’s Leadership Committee, “Engaging critical stakeholders is a benchmark of Terry’s achievements and leadership contributions.”

Chism praised Gilbert for leading the establishment of AFBF’s Farm Bureau Women’s Communications Boot Camp. Nearly 200 women have completed the program to date, sharpening their skills as agricultural advocates.

Gilbert served on several KFB advisory committees focusing on issues that are important to farmers and ranchers including taxes, private property rights, health insurance and farm safety/health.

“Terry Gilbert is a dear friend and fearless advocate for Farm Bureau,” said Mark Haney, president of Kentucky Farm Bureau. “Her leadership abilities are well known throughout Kentucky and across the country. She has been a trailblazer for the ag industry and is certainly deserving of this honor. Kentucky is proud to call her one of our own.”

Gilbert was nominated by AFBF’s Women’s Leadership Committee for the Founders Award. A national Farm Bureau committee selected the winners.