A funny thing happened on the way to Yavapai County Farm Bureau’s election forum.

As word got out about the June 7 event — which focused on top statewide races, including governor and attorney general — other candidates began calling, asking to participate.

In the end, nine candidates from the top five statewide races appeared on stage to answer questions from the audience.

Twenty candidates for state and county races set up tables to share information about their platforms and talk one-on-one with constituents.

And 220 residents eagerly listened to what they had to say.

Why wade into politics?

That’s no small feat in today’s polarized political climate.

Candidates are shunning election forums nationwide, choosing to speak to supporters instead of sharing the stage with opponents.

But to Yavapai County leaders, these interactions are essential.

“For one, it gets our members connected with the people running, which means we have connections with those people after they are elected,” said Sharla Mortimer, the Yavapai County Farm Bureau president who hosted the forum on her farm. 

“It also helps the community see us as a resource and an asset. For us, that really pays dividends.”

What you need to be successful

Election forums are hard work. 

It can take a lot of phone calls and emails to get candidates on board — and a lot of planning to ensure everyone is treated fairly.

“This is a heavily Republican county,” said Sherrie Hanna, the Yavapai County Farm Bureau women’s leadership chair who spent hours reaching out to candidates. 

“Some of the Democrats were initially hesitant to join. They worried about ‘gotcha’ questions. A lot of the Republicans didn’t like that we had invited Democrats. 

“I just kept telling them that we are nonpartisan and want to give every candidate an equal opportunity to participate.”

How fairness looks in practice

Candidates were given 2 minutes on stage to introduce themselves, a minute to answer each of three questions received from the audience and 2 minutes to offer closing statements.

Response durations were based on the number of candidates participating and the total time of the event — in this case, 90 minutes. 

Candidates weren’t given questions in advance.

“The hardest thing is making sure you’re asking questions the same way to all candidates,” Mortimer said. “But it really sets the tone.”

Before the forum, candidates drew numbers to determine who would speak first and where they could place their tables during the meet-and-greet, eliminating any perceived bias.

And as the forum started, the audience was reminded to be respectful while candidates spoke.

Other tips to consider

Not every county needs to focus on statewide races, Mortimer said.

Look at the matchups that are most important to your community and go from there.

It helps to ask attendees to RSVP, she added, so you can plan for that size of crowd. 

Be sure to share event details well in advance on social media, in local newspapers, at town council meetings and by word of mouth.

And don’t forget the food! Whether it’s cookies or a full meal, consider serving locally produced products. 

“That offered a great opportunity for us to talk about what Yavapai County Farm Bureau does and how ag affects the whole state,” Hanna said.

Ready to get started?

Mortimer and Hanna are happy to share their election forum experience with other county Farm Bureaus. Email them at info@yavapaicountyfb.org. 

Arizona Farm Bureau also can help you plan. Contact your outreach manager for more information.


Joanna Allhands writes about water, land use and other issues important to the Arizona Farm Bureau. Reach her at joannaallhands@azfb.org.