In this phase, the Strategic Planning Committee will identify 3–5 core strategic pillars that reflect the key priorities of the Skagit County Farm Bureau — such as advocacy, education, member services, or innovation in agriculture. These pillars will serve as the foundation for guided conversations with members and stakeholders.

We will then develop a set of clear, open-ended prompts under each pillar to be used in upcoming small group discussions. These prompts are designed to spark honest feedback, generate ideas, and surface both challenges and opportunities from the broader community.

The goal of this phase is to ensure our listening sessions are focused, productive, and aligned with the Farm Bureau’s mission — while still allowing room for diverse perspectives to shape the plan.

This phase centers on direct engagement with members, producers, and agricultural stakeholders across Skagit County. Using the strategic pillars and discussion prompts developed in the previous phase, we will conduct a series of small focus groups to gather input on the most pressing needs, challenges, and opportunities facing our ag community.

These sessions are designed to be informal but purposeful — creating space for real conversations that reflect the diversity of voices in local agriculture, including farmers, ranchers, young professionals, educators, and industry partners.

Insights gathered during this phase will play a critical role in shaping the priorities, goals, and actions of the final strategic plan. By listening first, we ensure that the future direction of the Skagit County Farm Bureau is member-informed and community-driven.

With feedback gathered from committee discussions and focus groups, Skagit County Farm Bureau will engage a third-party facilitator to guide the development of a comprehensive 3–5 year strategic plan. This facilitator will help synthesize information, ensure alignment with our mission, and bring structure and objectivity to the process.

Using the key themes identified through community input and committee dialogue, the facilitator will work alongside the Strategic Planning Committee to define our core strategic pillars, set measurable goals, and outline specific initiatives that will strengthen member engagement, advocacy, education, and organizational growth.

This phase represents the culmination of the planning process — translating insights into a clear, actionable roadmap that will guide the future of Skagit County Farm Bureau.