History of MFBF

The Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF)

 

Since 1915, MFBF has been known as “Voice of Agriculture” in Massachusetts.The Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) is a grassroots organization with its policies and priorities set at the local level by individual farmer members in a democratic process that dates to its beginning. 

 

The Farm Bureaus movement began as an idea in Broome County, NY, in 1911. In late 1917 the Farm Bureau movement had spread across the country and gave rise to the idea of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF). The national organization that was formed still respects the original grassroots structure that gave the individual farmer control over the issues and solutions generated for the good of American agriculture.

 

MFBF is the Commonwealth’s largest general farming organization with more than 3,000 member families in 12 counties. Individual farmers join as members at the local county level. A membership gives farmers access to all the benefits of both MFBF and the AFBF, the world’s largest agricultural advocacy organization with about 6.2 million family members nationwide.

 

Since 1915 MFBF’s experience in issues relating to agriculture here in the Commonwealth has allowed the organization to become known as “Voice of Agriculture” in Massachusetts. This respect for the grassroots policy development process and emphasis on every member’s input have propelled MFBF into playing a critical role in shaping public policy locally, statewide, and nationally.

If you are a farmer who is interested in helping preserve and strengthen an integral part of our working landscape, MFBF is the place for you. Please join us today, by clicking here (link to membership application).

 

Our organization also celebrates the history of its farmers and in 2020 compiled a Century Farms book that is available for purchase on Amazon.com. This book profiles 132 Massachusetts farms which qualified for this honor, but there are more farms in the Commonwealth which also qualify. If your farm is eligible for this honor and was not recognized in the 2020 edition, please let us know for the 2030 edition by emailing [email protected].

 

 

View the History of American Farm Bureau