Florida to be well represented at American Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Seattle Jan. 10-13

Florida Farm Bureau President John L. Hoblick will lead a group of about 50 Florida Farm Bureau members to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 91st Annual Meeting Jan. 10-13 in Seattle. The group includes voting and Women’s delegates, county presidents, other leaders, and staff.

The Florida representatives will join more than 5,000 Farm Bureau members helping to shape policies important to farmers and ranchers at the national level.

The Florida delegates also will join with other U.S. farmers in opposing the current federal climate change legislation. FFBF has been taking part in the AFBF “Don’t Cap Our Future” grassroots campaign to contact Congressional representatives and ask them to speak out against the legislation.

“It’s important that Florida representatives attend the convention to help shape policies that could affect our farmers,” Hoblick said. “American Farm Bureau policy needs to reflect the concerns of Florida’s farmers.”

The theme of this year’s convention is “Passage to Success,” and the event will include presentations on the urgent need for livestock producers to become activists and the importance of farmers’ using social media.

“The national convention helps our Farm Bureau leaders stay involved in the national policymaking process and gives them a better overall understanding of policies that affect different farmers across the country,” Hoblick said.

Also during the convention American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman will recognize Florida Farm Bureau’s organizational achievements by presenting Hoblick with Awards of Excellence in all five performance categories as well as a President’s Award for Education and Promotion. These categories also include leadership development, policy implementation, public relations and member services.

Jeb Smith of St. Johns County will represent Florida in the Young Farmer & Rancher Achievement Award competition. At the Florida Farm Bureau annual meeting in October, Smith received a new Dodge Ram Quad Cab truck courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company for being selected winner of the state YF&R Achievement Award.

Carlton and Laura Lee Taylor of Polk County, winners of Florida Farm Bureau’s Excellence in Agriculture competition, will participate in the AFBF competition for farmers and ranchers who are under the age of 35 and do not derive the majority of their income from an owned farm operation.

Jenny Black of Lakeland will represent Florida in the Young Farmer & Rancher Discussion Meet. The discussion meet is a forum that allows young farmers and ranchers aged 18-35 to demonstrate their ability to express ideas and opinions on major agricultural issues.

Western Palm Beach County Farm Bureau was among 15 county Farm Bureaus from across the nation selected by the American Farm Bureau Federation through the County Activities of Excellence (CAE) program for outstanding programs and initiatives. Representatives from the county will staff a booth in the trade show area of the convention showcasing their “Sweet Corn Fiesta” event.

The Florida Farm Bureau Federation is the state’s largest general-interest agricultural association with about 143,000 member-families statewide. Headquartered in Gainesville, the Federation is an independent, nonprofit agricultural organization. More information about Florida Farm Bureau is available on the organization’s Web site, http://FloridaFarmBureau.org