Wagner elected to AFBF Board

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July 8, 2026

Topic: Leadership

Bismarck, N.D. - North Dakota Farm Bureau (NDFB) President Val Wagner has been elected by fellow Farm Bureau leaders from the Midwest region to serve on the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Board of Directors, marking a significant milestone for the organization's representation at the national level.

Wagner will fill a seat that became vacant when the former Kansas Farm Bureau state president stepped down from the board. She will serve out the remainder of the term, which runs through January 2027.

The election places Wagner among the national leaders who help guide policy direction and priorities for Farm Bureau members across the country. As far as NDFB can determine, no North Dakota Farm Bureau president has served on the AFBF Board of Directors since at least 1999, and the organization is continuing to research its records to confirm whether any NDFB president has held the position before now.

"I am truly honored by the opportunity to represent North Dakota on the American Farm Bureau Federation Board. Leadership isn't about speaking the loudest, it's about listening first. I am grateful for the opportunity to carry the views of North Dakota Farm Bureau members to the national level and advocate for the issues that matter most to them," Wagner said.

"The future of agriculture is bright because of the people who dedicate their lives to it every day. I look forward to working together to strengthen our farms, ranches, and rural communities while ensuring North Dakota continues to have a respected and influential voice at the highest levels of Farm Bureau leadership," she added.

NDFB Executive Vice President and CEO Jeffrey Missling said Wagner's election reflects the strength of her leadership and the respect she has earned among Farm Bureau members across the state and the region.

"Val's election to the AFBF Board is a proud moment for North Dakota Farm Bureau and for every member she represents," Missling said. "Her dedication to agriculture, her thoughtful leadership style, and her deep roots in our farming and ranching communities make her an outstanding voice for our state at the national level."

Wagner, from Monango, was elected NDFB president in 2025. She and her husband, Mark, run a Red Angus and Simmental commercial livestock ranch and raise corn, soybeans, alfalfa, and cover crops. Wagner was elected to the District 3 NDFB Board of Directors in 2020 and was elected NDFB vice president in 2023. Additionally, she has served on the state and national Farm Bureau Promotion and Education Committee and the Young Farmer and Rancher Committee, and has served on her local school board.

The American Farm Bureau Federation is the nation's largest general farm organization, representing farm and ranch families across all 50 states and Puerto Rico.