The new chairman of the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) committee is a 4th generation cattle producer from Southwest Missouri who is enthusiastic and optimistic about the future of agriculture for his generation and those to come. “I want nothing more than for my children to be the fifth generation on the same property that my …
Farm Bureau’s Thatcher on 2012 Farm Bill
American Farm Bureau Federation Congressional Relations Director Mary Kay Thatcher gives 50-50 odds on getting a new farm bill done in 2012. “It’s going to be a real uphill battle to get it done,” Thatcher said during a farm bill session at the AFBF annual meeting on Sunday. “It’s a goal that’s certainly worth working towards because there’s going to …
AFBF President Addresses Membership
The president of the American Farm Bureau Federation told members gathered for the organization’s 93rd annual meeting Sunday that America’s farmers and ranchers are more productive than ever and are providing a solid economic foundation for our nation. “We are the 1 percent that is producing food and fiber for the other 99 percent,” said Bob Stallman of Texas in …
Hawaii Governor Welcomes Farm Bureau
Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie welcomed members of the American Farm Bureau Federation on Sunday with open arms and shared his vision of agriculture for the Aloha State. “You have to have an integrated approach to water, to land and to agriculture,” Abercrombie said, as he talked about the rich Polynesian history of the state and the concept of Ahupuaa – …
Heading out for AFBF Annual Meeting #93
Farmers and ranchers from around the nation are heading to the Aloha State this weekend to “Navigate the Waves of Change” at the 93rd Annual American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting. The event officially gets underway on Sunday morning with the opening general session, with state farm bureau awards and address by AFBF president Bob Stallman. The closing general session …
Pork Board Celebrates 20 Years of Cindy
The National Pork Board is celebrating Cindy today. Not me, that would be Cindy Cunningham, or “communications professional extraordinaire,” as NPB VP of Communications Michael Wegner calls her. Our good friend is being celebrated today for 20 years of service to America’s pork industry. As Mike notes, Cindy “helped guide the pork industry through the price collapse in 1998 and …
Beef Checkoff Launches “Cow Chow”
Move over FarmVille – there’s a new game in town. The beef checkoff has launched a super cool, clever and creative way to educate people about what cows eat. It’s called “Cow Chow” (you have to love that!) and it’s an online game and video series designed to answer common questions about cattle diets. The 10-question game and corresponding videos …
New President for Canada’s Outdoor Shows
The new year has ushered in a new leader for Canada’s Outdoor Shows, the parent company of Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show and Canada’s Outdoor Equine Expo. Doug Wagner became president effective January 1, assuming this position from Lorie Jocius, who now is vice president. “Doug and my late husband, Ginty, created Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show almost two decades ago,” says …
Golden ARC Awards Deadline Extended
For those folks just getting back into the office this week after the holidays and playing the game of catch-up, the Agricultural Relations Council has some good news. The deadline for the 2011 Golden ARC awards has been extended to on or before Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012 at 5 p.m. The annual competition will include nearly 40 categories for agricultural …
National Cattlemen Ready to Tackle 2012
The staff of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) in Washington DC is ready to tackle top priority issues in 2012 – and number one on the list is estate tax reform. According to NCBA Manager of Legislative Affairs Kent Bacus, the estate tax, commonly referred to as the death tax, is one of the leading causes of the breakup …