The American Farm Bureau Federation presented one of its highest honors, the Distinguished Service Award, to Bob Stallman during AFBF’s 2017 Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show in Phoenix, Ariz.

AFBF established the Distinguished Service Award in 1928 to honor individuals who have devoted their careers to serving the national interest of American agriculture.

Stallman served as president of the nation’s largest general farm organization for 16 years, stepping down in 2016. A cattleman and rice farmer from Columbus, Texas, Stallman sharpened his leadership skills as a young farmer and rancher. He became president of the Texas Farm Bureau in 1993, and AFBF president in 2000.

“Yes, Bob was from Texas, but he did a great job for all of American agriculture,” Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening said. “You talk to the folks in Iowa, you talk to the folks in New York, you talk to the folks on the West Coast, and they all thought a lot of Bob.”

Under Stallman’s leadership, the AFBF brand became stronger, and the organization was retooled for the 21st Century. He moved AFBF headquarters from Chicago to Washington, D.C., to strengthen Farm Bureau’s voice and policy influence for its members.

As chief spokesperson for AFBF in Washington, Stallman was articulate and resolute, sticking up for American agriculture and advocating for Farm Bureau policy. He led the charge in standing up to government overreach and helped secure major gains for farmers and ranchers.

His leadership and expertise has garnered respect across the agriculture and food industry, and he used that influence to foster dialogue with consumers and lawmakers alike.

Stallman has served on a number of national committees, boards and coalitions. This includes serving as the first chair of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance. He was appointed by both the George W. Bush and Obama administrations to serve on the advisory committee for the U.S. Trade Representative, and worked with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to address the issues facing rural America. The secretary called Stallman’s leadership “critically important” in the passage of the farm bill and in helping advance trade opportunities for American agriculture.

“Every morning I would wake up and think about the new challenges that the day was going to have, but also thankful for the fact that I had been given an opportunity to work with a lot of people in agriculture to hopefully make things better,” Stallman said in reflection on his years of service.

Texas Farm Bureau nominated Stallman to receive the DSA award and a national Farm Bureau committee named him as the winner.

Follow along with the AFBF Convention on Twitter using #AFBF17.