Florida Farm Bureau Annual Meeting will be Oct. 28-30 in Daytona

Hundreds of farmers and ranchers from across the state will convene Oct. 28-30 at the Hilton Oceanfront Resort in Daytona Beach for the Florida Farm Bureau Federation’s 68th annual meeting. Organized around the theme “Strong Family Farms, Strong Florida,” the meeting will offer events centered on Florida Farm Bureau Women, Young Farmers and Ranchers, legislative action and education, awards for county leaders and environmental stewardship. Voting delegates will adopt the policies that will guide the organization during the ensuing 12 months.

“We are proud to be the organization that speaks for and serves Florida’s family farms,” said President John L. Hoblick. “The annual meeting allows us to honor leaders and county Farm Bureaus for their accomplishments, while setting legislative and policy goals for the future.”
At 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 28, Bruce Faulmann, publisher of Florida Trend, will address the annual meeting of the Agriculture Institute of Florida. Farm Bureau convention attendees are invited to attend the luncheon and can register by contacting Betsy McGill, email Flsdgrowers@aol.com, phone 863-675-2144.

Registration for the Florida Farm Bureau annual meeting begins Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 1 p.m. The Youth Quiz Bowl begins at 1 p.m. At 3 p.m., the Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee will hold its annual meeting. The FedPAC reception for contributors begins at 5:30 p.m. with featured speaker and bestselling author Don Yaeger.

Thursday morning’s highlights include a Member Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. followed by the Young Farmer and Rancher discussion meet and Youth Speech Contest. The noon FarmPAC Luncheon will feature not only the 2009 Legislator of the Year awards but a panel discussion by the candidates for commissioner of agriculture. Thursday’s general session will feature the president’s annual address followed by the Crop Advisor, Newsperson of the Year and Ag Journalist of the Year awards. The guest speaker will be Barry Bushue, vice president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. The President’s Celebration and Awards Ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m.

Friday morning, Commissioner Charles Bronson hosts the Commissioner’s Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Awards breakfast at 7:30 a.m., followed by the final general session, which begins at 9:30 a.m.

For more information on the annual meeting, contact Shaun Fulford at (352) 378-8100, Ext. 1030, email shaun.fulford@ffbf.org, or visit, http://floridafarmbureau.org/annual_meeting.