AgWired

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.

The Awards for Excellence were awarded to state Farm Bureaus that demonstrated outstanding achievements in six program areas: Education and Outreach; Leadership Development; Member Services; Membership Initiatives; Policy Development and Implementation; and Public Relations and Communications.

See all the winners here.

2016 AFBF Convention photos

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 to be a top priority—and the next generation of farmers and ranchers is in a unique position to share agriculture’s story.

He also noted that young farmers’ enthusiasm for new technology can be a real asset in reaching out to consumers. “It’s our nature to adapt faster, so when there’s a new social media tool we embrace it,” Coxbill said.

Coxbill and his father raise corn, alfalfa, sugar beets, dry edible beans and wheat, and they have a cow-calf operation and a feedlot. He and his wife Sammie have three children.

2016 AFBF Convention photos

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 West and president Brian Winnekins of WRDN Radio in Durand, Wisconsin. The workshop was so well received that Sabrina and Brian said people stayed on well after the end and had to be ushered out for the next session.

During a session on estate planning, KCOE ISOM CPA Doug Claussen encouraged farmers to start planning now for future growth and to develop a clear and concise strategy for having the next generation take over the operation. “A lot of farmers want to build a legacy for their family,” Claussen said. “Farms that have been around for 100 years didn’t just happen by accident.”

UnmannedFarmer Robert Blair with Measure Drone as a Service provided perspective on the advantages and practical considerations of using unmanned aerial vehicles during a workshop on drones. “We need precision ag technology to increase profitability and reduce environmental impact,” Blair said. “UAVs give proactive data throughout the season. You can see what is happening and make adjustments on the spot.”

Check out the FB convention newsroom for more on happenings at the meeting this week, as well as links to photos, video and audio. Their team did an awesome job as always of getting content on-line for the media.

2016 AFBF Convention photos

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 of the most valuable lessons I learned early on in business is that perception creates reality,” Corcoran said, urging farmers to take the same approach to dispel the myths of corporate farming and help the public understand the business of the family farm.

Corcoran noted that in seven years of on “Shark Tank”, the majority of her investments were in food businesses. “I invest in the entrepreneur, not the business,” said Corcoran. “I’ve found that people in the food business are givers by nature. They’re kind, they’re good souls, and they’re true blue.”

2016 AFBF Convention photos