Board of Directors Achieve 100% Certification
During the Cook County Farm Bureau Board of Directors Strategic Planning Session in February 2022, the Board was notified of a new organizational leadership growth and training program: the County Farm Bureau (CFB) Certified Director Program. The Illinois Farm Bureau’s “CFB of the Future Working Group” made it a priority to provide a professional program to help build the Farm Bureau leadership across the state.
The CFB Certified Director Program went live on March 1, 2022 for board members, as time allowed, to begin the online instruction through the American Farm Bureau University platform, accessing various modules that provided education on key aspects for board member best practices.
In August 2023, when newest CCFB board member Greg Stack received notification of his approved Director Certification, that meant 100% of the Cook County Farm Bureau Board of Directors achieved the Certified Director designation. The 12 Board members that became certified include:
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Dan Biernacki Jim Bloomstrand Roger Freeman Jim Gutzmer |
Pat Horcher Gerry Kopping Janet McCabe Todd Price |
Mike Rauch Greg Stack Mark Yunker Ruth Zeldenrust |
In addition, past board member Tim Stuenkel and Farm Bureau manager Bob Rohrer also passed the certification testing.
Certified directors received recognition, a certified director lapel pin, a certified director logo shirt, and the knowledge necessary to serve as a quality leader of the Cook County Farm Bureau. Cook County is one of a handful of County Farm Bureaus in Illinois in which 100% of the directors have chosen to become certified directors.
Instruction and testing included information on the history of Illinois Farm Bureau and American Farm Bureau Federation, County Farm Bureau board development, advocacy and issue management, governance, membership, foundation, public relations, and organizational planning.
Each module took 30 to 90 minutes to complete. A 75% passing grade for each module test was required to be able to advance to the next area of instruction.
Cook County Farm Bureau President, Janet McCabe, said, “I am so proud of each director and the hard work and dedication that everyone gave to become certified. The program required time and focus to achieve and Cook County Farm Bureau will benefit from their efforts.”