Annual Meeting will be held Oct. 8-10 in Orlando

Hundreds of farmers and ranchers from across the state will convene Oct. 8-10 at the Peabody Hotel in Orlando for the Florida Farm Bureau Federation’s 67th annual meeting. Organized around the theme “Growing for Tomorrow,” the meeting will offer events centered around Florida Farm Bureau Women, Young Farmers and Ranchers, legislative action and education, awards for county leaders and environmental stewardship. Voting delegates will elect the president and vice president and adopt the policies that will guide the organization during the ensuing 12 months.

“This organization is looking toward the future,” 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. 8, Tim Center, director of Sustainable Florida, will address the annual meeting of the Agriculture Institute of Florida at the Rosen Plaza. Farm Bureau convention attendees are invited to attend the luncheon and can register for it by contacting Betsy McGill, email Flsdgrowers@aol.com, phone 863-675-2144.

Registration for the Florida Farm Bureau meeting begins Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Peabody Hotel. The Youth Quiz Bowl begins at 1 p.m. At 3 p.m., the Farm Bureau Women’s Committee will hold its annual meeting. At 6 p.m. attendees are invited to mingle at the Membership Gathering, featuring light refreshments and hors d’oeuvres.

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 the 2008 Legislature of the Year awards. A 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. Jim Wiesemeyer of Informa Economics will speak on farm policy, trade issues and national politics. 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 Rachel Kudelko at (352) 378-8100, Ext. 1030, email Rachel.kudelko@ffbf.org, or visit, http://floridafarmbureau.org/annual_meeting.