Bob Stallman, who has served as president of the American Farm Bureau Federation since 2000, will leave the organization in January.

“It has been a tremendous honor to serve the nation’s Farm Bureau members and represent agriculture and rural America,” Stallman said in a statement Tuesday. “After 16 years as AFBF president, six as Texas Farm Bureau president and several more in other Farm Bureau roles, it is time to hand over the reins of leadership.”

Stallman, a cattle and rice producer from Texas, did not say what he plans to do after leaving the Farm Bureau.

“It is time for a change; a change for this organization and a change for me. … For myself, I simply view this decision as giving me the freedom to do that which I choose for the future,” he said in a letter to Farm Bureau staff.

Stallman declined requests for additional comment through a Farm Bureau spokesperson.

The organization, which represents more than 1 million member families, will elect a new president in January 2016 at its convention in Florida.

Source – Dairy Today