Collin Peterson Receives American Farm Bureau Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award

Collin Peterson, former congressional leader from Minnesota, and former Kentucky Farm Bureau President Mark Haney, are the recipients of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2025 Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award and Farm Bureau Founders Award, respectively. The DSA and Founders Award are the highest honors presented by AFBF. Peterson and Haney will be recognized during the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 106th Convention in San Antonio, Jan. 24-29.

AFBF established the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award to in 1928 to honor individuals who have devoted their careers to serving the national interest of American agriculture. First presented in January 2017, AFBF’s Founders Award for exemplary leadership, service or contributions to Farm Bureau is presented in recognition of outstanding achievements and work in the interest of Farm Bureau.

Peterson was nominated by the Minnesota Farm Bureau for the DSA. Haney was nominated by the Kentucky Farm Bureau for the Founders Award. A national Farm Bureau committee selected each of the winners.

Peterson has been a staunch supporter of agriculture for more than 40 years, advocating for farmers and ranchers across the country. During his time in the House as a representative of Minnesota’s seventh congressional district, he served on the Agriculture Committee, including as chair from 2007-2011 and 2019-2021. He was instrumental in negotiating passage of the 2008, 2014 and 2018 farm bills.

Now retired from Congress, Peterson continues to focus on important work for agriculture. He is the founder of the Midwest Council on Agriculture, a group that advocates for agriculture and economic policy that supports long-term sustainability of the industry. In addition, he is president and founder of the Peterson Group, a government affairs and public policy firm.

A longtime Farm Bureau member, Peterson shared what receiving this award means to him. “We’ve worked together on so many things,” he said. “It’s a high honor to get this award. I appreciate it.”

Minnesota Farm Bureau President Dan Glessing shared what he views as the keys to Peterson’s success in Congress. “I think what made him successful was his candidness and his bipartisan nature,” he said. “When folks had issues or concerns with legislation, they would go to him and come back with a clear answer. You didn’t have to wonder where you stood with him.”