Strong Boards – Good Governance – Thriving Associations
Last month, I shared a few thoughts about the importance of strong boards. Not long after hitting “send,” Janette Barnard‘s Prime Future newsletter arrived in my inbox with a headline that made me pause: Your board is (probably) too old.
As someone who’s closer to retirement than graduation—and passionate about organizational development in agriculture—I had to dig in.
It reminded me of a standout example of board excellence that I’ve studied (though not worked with directly): Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI). While they are not a client of Cultivated Conversations, Inc., PFI is a model we’ve discovered as we sharpen our own governance approach and support others in doing the same.
Case Study: Practical Farmers of Iowa
1. Mission-Driven from the Start PFI was founded in 1985 during a farm crisis and ecological breakdown. Its roots lie in peer-to-peer learning and farmer-led research—and that foundation still guides their work today.
2. Board Structure Reflects Their Values PFI maintains a 12-member board with 10 farmers and 2 non-farmer experts. This structure keeps governance grounded in farmer priorities while bringing in external perspective and strategic foresight.
To ensure a focus on members’ priorities, 10 of the 12 board members must be farmers…Board members serve in many capacities, from ensuring fiscal soundness and effective programs to providing leadership. —Practical Farmers of Iowa
3. Strategic Planning with Members at the Core PFI’s 2021–2026 strategic plan was built through surveys, listening sessions, interviews, and deep board engagement. It focuses on member growth, food system impact, and farmer leadership.
4. Inclusive Governance Evolution As their membership diversified, so did their board. PFI has intentionally added voices from vegetable, fruit, small grains, and historically underrepresented farmers—including first-generation and BIPOC producers.
5. Disciplined Growth, Guided by Strategy With a 5-year budget increase from $2.2M to nearly $12M, PFI uses its board and strategic plan to evaluate every major opportunity, grant, and partnership.
6. Farmer-Led Programs, Farmer-Guided Oversight From 240+ annual field days to on-farm research trials, the board helps ensure that every activity reflects the needs—and leadership—of the farmers they serve.
Key Lessons for Agriculture Associations
- Design boards for mission integrity and strategic breadth.
- Keep members at the center of planning and governance.
- Evolve representation as your membership grows.
- Use strategy as a decision-making compass—not a shelf document.
- Measure impact consistently—and adjust with purpose.
How Cultivated Conversations, Inc. Can Help
At Cultivated Conversations, Inc., we walk alongside associations ready to build that kind of clarity and capacity. We’re constantly learning from leaders like PFI—and applying those lessons through:
- Board & governance coaching
- Strategic planning facilitation
- CliftonStrengths-based leadership development
- Full association management services
Because when boards are strong and governance is intentional, associations don’t just survive—they thrive.
Published via Cultivated Conversations’ Thursday Thoughts series