Farm Bureau is the largest general agricultural organization that represents

 farmers throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. It has been representing the needs

 of its members for one hundred years through grassroots efforts that begin with members

 at the county level. Because of the changes in agriculture and the prominence of

 commodity organizations that serve specific segments of the agricultural industry, Farm

 Bureau needs to find ways to recruit, retain, and encourage its members to take on

 additional leadership roles within the Farm Bureau organization.

 An understanding of volunteers and what motivates individuals to join

 organizations and assume roles in those organizations is necessary for organizations in

 order for those organizations to more effectively utilize their volunteers and make their

 efforts productive. Individuals need to identify with the organization and its members

 and feel that they are accomplishing organizational objectives. Organizations should

 realize that they are competing with other time pressures on an individual and should

 consider restructuring volunteer tasks to meet the needs of the volunteer.

 Another factor in an individual's likelihood to join and participate in an

 organization is the organization itself and the leadership that guides it. Organizations

 should develop the leadership within to produce new leaders for tomorrow and to

 increase the leadership skills of existing leaders to make their organizations more

 effective. One way to do this is to offer leadership development opportunities and

 leadership training to individuals in the organization.

 Agricultural organizations need to consider the motivations of volunteers and

their organizational leadership as agriculture is facing many changes, such as farm sizes,