WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) Young Farmer Advisory Committee has elected new leaders for 2022-23. These officers and district representatives organize networking and educational opportunities in their communities and plan IFBF’s Young Farmer Conference, an event that draws hundreds of young farmers and agribusiness leaders together every year.
“Young people are a valuable part of our organization,” says IFBF President Brent Johnson. “They come with new perspectives, unique backgrounds and specific challenges. The young farmer committee understand their peers and are successful in creating an atmosphere where farmers can learn and grow together in their ag and farming careers.”
Elected to officer positions were:
- Megan Hansen, East Pottawattamie County, Chair
- Keaton Keitzer, Des Moines County, Vice-Chair
- Vanessa Trampel, Hancock County, Secretary
- Dee Pickard, Marshall County, and Megan Kregel, Dubuque County, PR Co-Chairs
Megan Hansen and her husband, Dan, raise four kids on their family farm. The Hansens also own and manage an ag consulting business focused on fertility management, seeding prescriptions and soil sampling. Megan has also represented Iowa in the American Farm Bureau national discussion meet.
Keaton Keitzer and wife, Keely, farm corn and soybeans with their family and raise pigs. Keaton also works as an agronomist, is active in his church and serves on a local school’s ag advisory committee.
Vanessa Trampel is a licensed practical nurse. Her and her husband, Kody, have two children and raise corn, soybeans, alfalfa, cattle and hogs on their farm. The Trampels serve with North Iowa Ag in the Classroom and enjoy attending livestock shows.
Dee Pickard farms grain, cattle and hogs with her husband, Brandon, and two children. She also coaches high school color guard and enjoys being involved in her kids’ activities from dance and showing cattle to softball.
Megan Kregel and her fiancé, Ted McAllister, are dairy farmers. Kregel has amassed a large following on TikTok where she uses the platform to dispel myths about dairy farming and share everyday farm life. She was also named one of Iowa Farm Bureau’s 2021 Young Farmer Leadership Award winners.
New district representatives joining the committee include Ted McAllister and Megan Kregel of Dubuque County, Mitchell and Bradi Sievers of Buena Vista County and Zac and Alyssa Preston of Warren County. These new committee members will serve three-year terms as communicators for their districts.
— Iowa Farm Bureau Federation
