Indiana Farm Bureau Delegates Meet to Set 2027 Policy

Indiana Farm Bureau member delegates gathered at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds in Danville, Indiana, on Saturday, Aug. 22, to determine the policy positions of the organization for the coming year.

The delegate body consisted of 236 farmers and agribusiness professionals from across the state. Members discussed several issues including energy, taxes, data centers and more.

“Our annual delegate session is really the foundation of this organization; it’s the meat and potatoes,” said Randy Kron, INFB president. “Legislators at the local, state and national level know how involved our grassroots are at creating these policies every year, so Farm Bureau is their trusted source for information on policy impacting agriculture.”

INFB’s policy development process begins at the local level. Each year, all counties can make policy suggestions or edits. Then, those suggestions are debated by a resolutions committee before being brought to the full delegate body.

During this year’s delegate session, there was significant discussion among delegates about data center development. Almost an entire page of new language was added on the topic in INFB’s policy book which included repealing some of the tax exemptions those developments currently receive.

“We knew going into delegate session that our members were concerned about data center development,” said Katie Nelson, INFB executive director of public policy. “They voted to include language that would prioritize responsible stewardship of local resources and respect for private property rights while also ensuring safeguards for local water supply. These new policy directives will be incredibly helpful as we head into a new legislative session in January where I’m sure legislators will be discussing this issue quite a bit.”

Other positions supported by delegates include property and local income tax specifications to continue refining what was passed in Senate Enrolled Act 1 from the 2026 General Assembly. Delegates also included an exemption for nutrient-based food from being classified as “ultra-processed”. This position was prompted by the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) discussion expected to impact nutrition directives at the state and national level.

Delegates also voted on members who would represent INFB at the 2027 American Farm Bureau Federation Convention that will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina, in January. The INFB delegates chosen will discuss policy positions for the national organization with representatives from all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Five county Farm Bureau leaders were elected as delegates for the AFBF Convention:

• Jerry Brooks, Clark County
• Aaron Chalfant, Randolph County
• Jeff Demerly, White County
• Darin Hadley, Allen County
• Hans Schmitz, Posey County

Over the next few weeks, the INFB public policy team will work with the board of directors to decide which priorities will set the stage in 2027 for the organization’s efforts at the Statehouse and in Washington, D.C.