September 3, 2019

NDFB to have special guest speaker at Big Iron

Topic: Leadership

Bismarck, ND - A call from the White House isn't something most Americans receive. Then a call back from the White House saying they are flying you to meet the President is a very surreal moment. A once in a lifetime moment.

On September 11 at 12:30 p.m. in the NDFB tent at the Big Iron Farm Show in Fargo, NDFB member Val Wagner will share her incredible story about getting your voice heard and meeting President Trump. Val comes from a small town in rural North Dakota, and she never imagined a phone call, inviting her to meet the President of the United States.

“Everyone has a story to tell and right now the country needs to hear from the agriculture community,” said NDFB Executive Vice President and CEO Jeffrey Missling. "Farming and ranching is not easy but hearing from someone like Val reminds us that the work we do matters, and our voice truly matters."

Wagner’s journey didn’t happen overnight. Wagner and her husband served on the NDFB Young Farmer and Rancher (YF&R) Committee and served a term on the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) YF&R Committee. From there, Wagner served six years on the NDFB Promotion and Education (P&E) Committee and was elected to serve as Vice-Chair on the AFBF inaugural committee for P&E.

Wagner and her husband live in Monango, N.D. and raise Red Angus/Simmental commercial beef, as well as corn, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa. They have four boys who they hope will be involved in farming as they grow.

“It’s the reason why we do what we do,” said Wagner. “I grew up on a small farm in North Dakota, but never wanted to stay in North Dakota. Now, I can’t imagine having raised my kids anywhere else.”

Wagner’s presentation begins at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 11 in the NDFB tent at Big Iron.