Adam Nielsen

⁃ Managed issues, developed organizational messaging and convened regular meetings of ILFB’s Issue Management Working Group comprised of top organizational leadership, including the ILFB President and Vice President and governmental affairs and communications staff members

⁃ Wrote news releases and issue papers for consumption by membership and agricultural media

⁃ Served as a spokesperson for ILFB and prepared leaders for media interviews.

-Developed and advocated for Federal Legislative Priorities set by a 20-member Board of Directors based on ILFB policy written and updated annually by Farm Bureau leaders.

⁃ Built and maintained relationships with members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation and their legislative staff; with congressional committees, and with federal agencies in Washington, DC.

⁃ Regularly led groups of Farm Bureau leaders and volunteers to Capitol Hill and to Federal agencies to advance ILFB’s legislative and regulatory agenda. and Created regular opportunities for ILFB farmer leaders to host U.S. Senators and Representatives on their farms.

⁃ Oversaw ILFB’s “grassroots” policy development program and annual publication of the association’s policy book.

⁃ Elected to three, four-year terms on the Normal Town Council, a seven-member governing body for Normal, Illinois.

⁃ Served as an “at-large” representative, responsible for representing the interests of a city of more than 50,000 residents, including Illinois State University students.

⁃ Helped lead the Town Council’s effort to re-create its central business district that became Uptown Normal, which added a Children’s Discovery Museum (CDM) new city Hall building and intermodal transportation center on the Chicago-to-St. Louis Amtrak line.

⁃ Served as the first chair for the Town’s CDM Board of Directors and expanded the museum’s donor base, as well as on the BN Convention and VIsitors Bureau Board.

- Responsible for news gathering and reporting in McLean County. Anchored news broadcasts and hosted events for the station, including the Children's Miracle Network Telethon and St. Jude Telethon.

- Part of an award-winning radio newsteam, responsible for news gathering and reporting in Bloomignton-Normal. Covered local government and hosted several hourly news casts.