Georgia Farm Bureau president Zippy Duvall has a new job after a three ballot election at the American Farm Bureau Federation convention in Orlando. Duvall, a third generation dairy farmer who currently maintains a 300 head beef cow herd, defeated three other candidates to be elected as president of the nation’s largest farm organization. His passionate acceptance speech stressed faith …
GMO Convert at #AFBF16
Anti-GMO activist turned advocate Mark Lynas shared his conversion experience during a featured workshop at the 97th American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show. Lynas told an audience of farmers and ranchers how he changed his mind on GMOs when he came face-to-face with the science supporting biotechnology. “As a scientist, you must have data to back …
State Farm Bureaus Honored at #AFBF16
State Farm Bureaus were presented awards for excellence in membership achievement and implementation of outstanding programs at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 97th Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show this week in Orlando. The Pinnacle Award, the highest honor a state can be awarded for program and membership achievement, was given to Iowa, Kansas, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Montana and North Carolina. …
New @AFBFYFR Chair at #AFBF16
Cole Coxbill of Goshen County, Wyoming has been elected as the next American Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee chairman for 2016. Coxbill will take over as chairman in February and serve for one year, and also serve a one-year term on the AFBF board of directors. According to Coxbill, connecting with people outside of farming and ranching continues …
Farmer Fighting Government at #AFBF16
John Duarte of California is fighting the government over normal farming practices for planting wheat. Duarte planted 450 acres wheat in a field in Tehama County in November 2012. In February 2013, he received a letter from the Army Corps of Engineers to “cease and desist” those operations alleging damage to wetlands. Duarte with the Pacific Legal Foundation filed a …
#AFBF Workshops Discuss Popular Issues
Trade agreements, commodity prices, GMO labeling, government regulations, farm succession planning, dealing with the media, drones, and food safety were just a few of the many workshop topics at the American Farm Bureau Federation annual convention in Orlando this week. One popular session offered tips for working with the media from NAFB West Region Vice President Sabrina Hill of AgNet …
“Shark Tank” Comes to #AFBF16
She calls herself the “shark with a heart” from the hit television show “Shark Tank” and investor Barbara Corcoran stole the hearts of farmers and ranchers at the closing session of the 97th American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show this week. Corcoran shared her tips for creating a brand and taking charge of your image. “One …
Farm Bureau: Winter is Beautiful for Photo Contest
There’s a unique beauty of farm country in winter. And Farm Bureau is reminding shutterbugs of that fact for the American Farm Bureau Federation and American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture’s 2015 Farm Bureau Photo Contest, open to all state and county Farm Bureau members and staff above 18 years of age at the time of entry, including professional photographers. …
#AFBF16 Awards Rural Entrepreneur of the Year
AccuGrain of Rose Hill, Iowa was named the Farm Bureau Entrepreneur of the Year, announced at AFBF’s 97th Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show on Monday. The AccuGrain team, led by founder Ryan Augustine, received a total of $30,000 in prize money to implement his business idea, which is X-ray technology to inventory flowing grain in real time. “This is …
Winners of @AFBFYFR Contests at #AFBF16
Winners of the Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award, Discussion Meet and Excellence in Agriculture competitions were announced today at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 97th Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show. William and Cala Tabb of Mississippi won the Achievement Award. They are the winners of either a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado or 2016 GMC Sierra, courtesy of Chevrolet. They …