What was it like to be in the room with President Trump as he announced the $12 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance Program on Monday? Indiana farmer Tyler Everett received a special invitation to visit the White House and share in the administration’s announcement.
“It was an honor to represent all the different types of farmers from Indiana,” says Tyler Everett, a corn and soybean producer from Lebanon, Indiana. He is also just been elected Vice President of the Indiana Corn Growers Association (ICGA).
Along with his father, Everett owns and operates Everett Farm and Seed. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins visited Everett’s farm in late October to announce that China had agreed to purchase 12 million metric tons of soybeans in 2025, then 25 million metrics tons each during 2026 and 2027.
Everett tells Hoosier Ag Today that he received a personal invitation last week from Secretary Rollins to be one of seven farmers to attend the announcement at the White House.
“I looked at my phone very early morning on Wednesday and saw that I had received a text message from [Ag Secretary] Brooke Rollins,” he says. “I woke my wife up and said, ‘Brittney, I just got a text message from the Secretary of Agriculture asking me to be at the White House on Monday with the President!’ I didn’t know what to do, so I just jumped out of bed! I was very excited, humbled, and honored.”
On Monday, Trump unveiled a $12 billion aid package for U.S. farmers. $11 billion will go to row crop farmers with the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program. The remaining $1 billion is being held back for producers of commodities not covered, such as specialty crops and sugar.
Details are still forthcoming, like how much money will go to each commodity sector. But, Rollins says those details will come quickly as USDA plans to get that money into the hands of farmers in need by Feb. 28, 2026.
Trump said the program is being funded from revenue gained through tariffs on foreign products.
Tyler says the Trump administration’s $12 billion farm aid package will provide a huge boost to America’s farmers.
“I know there are a lot of different farmers struggling much worse than others, and I know that this will mean a lot to every one of them farmers,” says Everett. “I hope it’s used responsibly and appropriately for next year’s inputs, farming expenses and living expenses.”
After having met with President Trump on Monday, what message does Tyler have for other farmers around the country?
“President Trump wants what’s best for us,” says Everett. “He doesn’t like assistance packages more than anyone else. [Many farmers] want free and open access to market and trade, and he agrees 100 percent with that, but he was more than happy to help with this assistance program and he has our backs 110 percent.”
CLICK BELOW to hear Hoosier Ag Today’s full conversation with Tyler Everett, as he talks further about his experience representing Indiana farmers at the White House on Monday, Dec. 8.
