Issue 1-2.qxd - American Farm Bureau

Transcription

Nashville, Tennessee
Saturday, January 7— Sunday, January 8, 2006
Farm Bureau Members Gather for 87th Convention
T
Photo courtesy of Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau.
he American Farm Bureau Federation welcomes approximately 6,000 of its members to
Nashville, Tenn., for the 87th convention and the annual meeting of voting delegates.
Nashville is known as Music City, USA, because of the Opryland radio program and the
country music scene that grew up around it. So, it makes sense that Nashville is the home
of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
However, the city also offers tours of Antebellum homes and other historic sites; several other
museums, including an agricultural museum and a science museum; great restaurants, some with live
music performances; and, of course, the state capitol. See pages 10 and 15 for more information about
Nashville history and attractions.
Finding time to see those attractions could be a challenge, though, because there will also be plenty of attractions at the AFBF convention, inside the Gaylord-Opryland resort and conference center. In
this first issue of The Nashville American you will find a map of the conference center, along with
information about the many conferences, speeches and other activities that are planned for you.
Issues will also be published Monday and Tuesday, recapping the events of the previous day and
providing more details about the events yet to come. Copies of the Monday edition will be available
Monday morning at the AFBF convention registration desk, and Monday afternoon outside the Delta
Ballroom, where the general session will be held.
The Tuesday edition will be available just outside the voting delegate session in the Presidential
Ballroom.
Inside this issue is also a guide to the many Farm Bureau Showcase exhibits, the additional seminars that are being put on by some of the Showcase exhibitors and lists of this year’s contestants in the
various Farm Bureau contests. We hope these maps, lists and guides will help you enjoy the convention, as well as make the most of your time here in Nashville.
New This Year
The location of this year’s convention makes it easier to offer the quality—and quantity—of
entertainment that Farm Bureau members enjoy. The convention will feature not one, not two, but three
renowned country musicians.
Sammy Kershaw, a multi-platinum country artist, will perform Monday, Jan. 9, at 7:30 p.m., after
the awards program including the Awards for Excellence for state Farm Bureaus.
Kershaw’s performance is sponsored by the John Deere Co. The program will take place in the
Delta Ballroom.
Some of Kershaw’s best known hits include “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful,” “I Can’t Reach
Her Anymore,” “National Working Woman’s Holiday,” “Love of My Life,” “Cadillac Style,” “Don’t
Go Near the Water” and “Haunted Heart.”
Michael Martin Murphey, the “singing cowboy poet,” will perform on Sunday, Jan. 8, at 8 p.m.,
as part of the America’s Heartland concert and the annual American Farm Bureau Foundation for
Agriculture Ice Cream Social. Murphey, known as Murph to many of his Farm Bureau friends, is most
Continued on page 14
‘America’s Heartland’
Shows Charms of Rural Life
One of the highlights of 2005 for Farm Bureau was the debut of a new public television program titled “America’s Heartland.”
The series profiles American farm and ranch families and celebrates the traditions and values
of rural Americans. It began airing on PBS stations around the country in September. It is soon to
air on a total of 163 PBS stations.
Now, the show is getting even more visibility, thanks to the RFD-TV network, the 24-hour
television network for rural America.
Continued on page 3
SUNDAY’S ROUND-UP
Sunday, January 8, 2006
All rooms located in the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Conference Center
7 a.m.
• Young Farmer & Rancher (YFR) Registration, Bayou E Foyer
7: 30 a.m. • Convention Registration, Delta Ballroom Pre-Function
– 6 p.m.
7:30 a.m. • YFR Discussion Meet: Competitor & Judge Orientation,
Bayou E&D
8:30 a.m. • Morning Devotions, Delta Ballroom
9:30 a.m. • Showcase Opens, Ryman Exhibit Hall C2
• YFR Discussion Meet Round 1, Bayou A-E, Canal A-E
• Exhibitor Seminar: “Investing in the Future of Agriculture,”
sponsored by Monsanto Co., Ryman Chambers
10:30 a.m. • Issue Conferences:
• “Making American Agriculture Productive and
Profitable (MAAPP): A Vision for 2019,”
Tennessee Ballroom A, C & E
• “How to Turn Today’s Members into Active Volunteers,”
Tennessee Ballroom B
• “Consumer-Driven Health Care: How to Beat the Pain
of High Health Care Costs,” Tennessee Ballroom D
• “Cooking Up Greenbacks: The annual FB Cooking
Show,” Presidential Ballroom D
• Exhibitor Seminar: “Animal ID, NAIS and Practical
Farm Bureau Solutions,” sponsored by Kansas Farm
Bureau, Ryman Chambers
Women’s Caucuses (Midwest-Governors’
Ballroom D, Northeast-Governors’ Ballroom E, SouthGovernors’ Ballroom C, West-Governors’ Ballroom A)
11:30 a.m. • Exhibitor Seminar: “Long-Term Care Insurance for
State Farm Bureaus,” sponsored by Employee
Benefits Corp. of America, Ryman Chambers
• AFB Women’s Luncheon, Presidential Ballroom A&B
(by ticket only)
• YFR Discussion Meet Round 2, Bayou A-E, Canal A-E
12:30 p.m. • AFB Women’s Business Session, Presidential Ballroom A&B
• Exhibitor Seminar: “Leading Tractor Technology from
John Deere: The 8030 Series Tractors,” sponsored by
John Deere, Ryman Chambers
1:15 p.m. • YFR Discussion Meet Sweet 16 Announcement,
Ryman Exhibit Hall C2
1:30 p.m. • Issue Conferences:
• “Crop and Livestock Situation and Outlook for 2006,”
Presidential Ballroom C&E
• “Animal Identification: A Good ‘ID’ea?”
Tennessee Ballroom B
• “A New Vantage Point on Your Potential,”
Tennessee Ballroom A, C & E
YFR Discussion Meet Sweet 16,
Bayou A&B, Bayou C&D, Canal A&B, Canal C&D
• Exhibitor Seminar: “Cash In on Customer Demands,”
sponsored by United Soybean Board, Ryman Chambers
3 p.m.
• General Session featuring President’s Address,
Distinguished Service Award and YFR Finalists
Announcements, Delta Ballroom
Showcase Closes, Ryman Exhibit Hall C2
8 p.m.
• The America’s Heartland Concert and the American
Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture Ice Cream
Social (Musical Entertainment by Michael Martin
Murphey), Tennessee Ballroom (tickets $5 each)
Page 2
EXHIBIT LEVEL
FLOOR PLANS
BALLROOM & MEETING ROOM LEVELS
Welcome, Farm Bureau Members
Thank you for traveling to Nashville for this, our 87th,
American Farm Bureau Federation convention and annual
meeting.
Not only have you journeyed to get here, but now that we
are assembled we will journey together on a
path toward greater prosperity for our industry
and strength for our organization.
The theme of this year’s convention,
“Country Roads & Global Highways,” reflects
the crossroads we have reached. Rural
America is still unique in its conservation of
the values and traditions that make farm country such a special place. But rural America is
more connected to the rest of the world than
ever.
Because of the Internet, increased global
trade and changes in demand for agricultural
products, we are at a point where we must
organize, strategize and modernize to not only
maintain our profitability, but also to take full
advantage of the new opportunities that will
come our way. Agriculture and Farm Bureau have always been
able to adapt to change, and that ability will serve us well in the
next few years.
As we do every year, we will discuss and debate the issues
that affect our industry, and the voting delegates will determine
Farm Bureau policies to set us on a road to continued success. I
always look forward to that debate, which is the culmination of
a policy process that started in living rooms and county Farm
Bureau offices throughout the country.
No matter what new challenges and opportunities come
our way, our grassroots policy development process will remain
the source of our organization’s strength and vibrancy. It’s the
reason we can say that our policy reflects the real concerns and
ideas of individual farmers and ranchers rather than just
Washington policy wonks. I want to thank everyone who has
participated in that process this year and helped us reach our
goal of setting national policy for the year to come.
And, thanks to Farm Bureau’s continued membership
growth—now up to more than 5.7 million members—our
organization will not be a backseat driver. We will be behind the
wheel, driving the decisions that affect farmers and ranchers.
This growth puts more fuel in our tank, helping us implement
Farm Bureau policies. Thanks to everyone who worked to reach
new membership heights.
Following on the theme of drafting a roadmap for agriculture, one of the highlights of this convention will be the presentation of the Making American Agriculture Productive and
Profitable (MAAPP) committee’s final report. The committee
members have met and studied our industry for the last two
years so they could recommend policies to ensure agricultural
profitability through 2019, when we will celebrate the 100th
anniversary of the founding of AFBF. We know that we face
some curves in the road, but at least the
MAAPP committee has helped to map out
where they are and how we might want to take
them. While the committee’s recommendations
are not official organization policy, I expect
they will fuel our policy debate for quite some
time.
Of course, an equally important part of
our convention is the fellowship we enjoy. We
come together at this time every year not only
to learn about and debate the issues that affect
agriculture, but also to enjoy the company of
folks who have traveled roads similar to ours.
We hear
about
changes
our fellow
Farm Bureau members have
made in their farming operations. We see photos of their
children and grandchildren.
We hear about what’s going
on in each other’s lives.
I look forward to
seeing all of you. And
I wish you an invigorating
and enjoyable convention.
‘America’s Heartland’
Continued from page 1
Potential viewership of “America’s Heartland” on PBS
stations was already more than 51 million households. AFBF
President Bob Stallman said it’s exciting that, now, even more
television viewers will see a program that “tells agriculture’s
story.”
RFD-TV began airing the show the week of Dec. 26. It
will run four times a week: Wednesdays at 8 p.m., Thursdays
at 4 a.m., Saturdays at noon and Sundays at 7 p.m., Eastern.
RFD-TV is distributed nationwide and carried by DISH
Network, Mediacom and NCTC cable systems, with additional
cable systems added regularly.
AFBF convention attendees can see the program and learn
more about it at the “America’s Heartland” booth in the
Showcase, and at the “America’s Heartland” Concert and AFB
Foundation for Agriculture Ice Cream Social, Sunday at 8 p.m.
in the Tennessee Ballroom
of the Gaylord
Opryland. Tickets to
the ice cream social
are $5 each.
Music artist
Michael Martin
Murphey, who wrote
and sang the
“America’s
Heartland” theme
song, will
perform at the ice
cream social.
Sincerely,
Bob Stallman
President
American Farm Bureau
Federation
Sunday, January 8
8:30 am
Delta Ballroom
The Nashville American
The Nashville American is the official newspaper of the
American Farm Bureau Federation’s 87th convention and
annual meeting, Jan. 8-11, 2006, in Nashville, Tenn. The
newspaper is published three times: Saturday/Sunday,
Monday morning and Tuesday morning.
Published by: American Farm Bureau Federation
600 Maryland Ave., S.W., Suite 800
Washington, D.C. 20024
Phone: 202-406-3600
Editor:
Lynne Finnerty, Farm Bureau News editor, AFBF
Graphics:
Mary Burns, graphic design director, AFBF
Jordan Cutler, graphic designer, AFBF
Photography: Mike Danna, Public Relations director,
Louisiana Farm Bureau
Ken Kashian, photographic services director,
Illinois Farm Bureau
Writers:
AFBF Public Relations staff members
State Farm Bureau Public Relations staff
members
Printing/Production:
Staton Publications, Orlando, Fla.
The AFBF Newsroom is located in Jackson C&D of the
Gaylord Opryland conference center.
Page 3
Back for a fifth year at
the AFBF Convention!
A collection of computers for members to access market updates, agricultural
news and e-mail.
Come to the Cyber Café to bid on your favorite items at the Silent Auction.
Open:
Sunday, January 8, 9:30 am - 3 pm
Monday, January 9, 9 am - 3 pm
Located:
In Hall B of the Gaylord Opryland Hotel
Sponsored by: Farm Bureau Bank
While Visiting the Cyber Café, check out the following links:
www.farmbureaubank.com
www.fb.org/programs/2005annual
www.musiccityusa.org
Page 4
Conferences Deal with Outlook for Agriculture Welcome,
The theme of the 87th American Farm
Bureau Federation convention and annual
meeting, Country Roads & Global Highways,
reflects the feeling that agriculture is at a crossroads where new directions will lead to new
challenges and opportunities.
Several of this year’s issue conferences
delve into the outlook for agriculture over the
next year, as well as over the long term.
The Making American Agriculture
Productive and Profitable (MAAPP) committee
has been studying agriculture and rural issues
over the last two years. The goal of the committee is to recommend a policy direction that
ensures that agriculture is productive and profitable through 2019, when AFBF will celebrate
the 100th anniversary of its founding.
At a conference on Sunday, Jan. 8, at
10:30 a.m., the MAAPP committee members
will discuss what they have learned over the
last two years, and talk about how some of the
information they gathered challenged their previous assumptions about agriculture.
Conventioneers will get a second chance to
attend the conference when it repeats on
Monday, Jan. 9, at 9:30 a.m. Both conferences
will be in the Tennessee Ballroom A, C & E.
The more immediate outlook will be discussed at the “Crop and Livestock Situation
and Outlook for 2006” conference, at 1:30
p.m., Sunday, Jan. 8. Three speakers—from
Informa Economics, Texas A&M University
and AFBF—will discuss how the cotton industry could change if the Step 2 program is eliminated, how cattle markets will react to the
reopening of the Japanese market for U.S. beef
and how high fuel and fertilizer prices are
affecting agriculture. The conference takes
place in Presidential Ballroom C&E.
During the same timeslot as the Situation
and Outlook conference is a conference to look
at the outlook for animal identification. The
“Animal Identification: A Good ‘ID’ea?” conference will be in Tennessee Ballroom B.
Experts from industry groups will discuss who
should pay for implementing animal ID, and
how the information collected through the
system will be used.
The conference titled “The WTO
Agriculture Negotiations: Progress, Outlook
and Impact on U.S. Agriculture” will deal with
the agreements reached so far during the
WTO’s Doha Round of negotiations, and what
obstacles remain to achieving a final agreement to reduce subsidies and tariffs worldwide.
New Agricultural trade embassador Richard
Crowder will speak. The conference will be in
Tennessee Ballroom D at 9:30 a.m., Monday,
Jan. 9.
The “Energy and Fertilizer Outlook for
2006” conference will focus even more closely
on energy costs. The conference will give you
access to energy industry experts who will talk
about what the energy markets will do over the
next year. The conference will be at 1:30 p.m.,
Monday, Jan. 9, in Tennessee Ballroom D.
Farmers have to stay attuned to the weather, and recent weather catastrophes have
heightened concerns that the weather is getting
more severe. The “Property Catastrophes: Is
The World Changing Around Us?” conference
will provide a review of recent weather events
and what to expect in the future. This conference also will take place at 1:30 p.m., Monday,
Jan. 9. It will be in Tennessee Ballroom B.
Those who enjoy food and cooking might
want to attend this year’s cooking demonstration conference, titled “Cooking Up
Greenbacks.” This year’s presentation will
focus on state Farm Bureau cookbooks and
how they are used to raise money for agricultural education. A Gaylord Opryland chef will
show you how to prepare some of the recipes
from those cookbooks, and provide plenty of
samples for the audience. Copies of state Farm
Bureau cookbooks will be for sale at the event.
The cooking demo happens at 10:30 a.m.,
Sunday, Jan. 8, in Presidential Ballroom D.
Those who work with Farm Bureau volunteers will enjoy the “How to Turn Today’s
Members into Active Volunteers” conference.
The speaker will share strategies for keeping
volunteers actively involved in Farm Bureau.
It takes place at 10:30 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 8, in
Tennessee Ballroom B.
Knowing that he was a founding member
and president of the environmental group
Greenpeace, why would you want to hear from
Dr. Patrick Moore? Because he is calling for a
new environmentalism that focuses on scientific data and moves away from confrontation. At
the “Environmentalism and Agriculture in the
21st Century” conference, Moore will reveal
the myths and misinformation that distort environmental debates. You can hear him speak at
9:30 a.m., Monday, Jan. 9, in Tennessee
Ballroom B.
Other conferences will focus on managing
health care costs, how to gain knowledge from
everyday life, how to analyze problems and
think up creative solutions, and how to work
with people with diverse personal styles. For a
complete list of the conferences available this
year, see your convention program.
Young Farmers
and Ranchers
I’m honored to wel-
come my fellow young
farmers and ranchers to
the 87th annual
American Farm Bureau
Federation convention
and annual meeting.
This meeting caps
an exciting year for me.
It was at the 86th convention that I was elected chairman of the
Young Farmer & Rancher (YFR) Committee,
and now at this meeting I will turn that title
over to someone else.
The experience of chairing this committee, serving on the AFBF board of directors
and voting on AFBF policy is unrivaled in
terms of learning more about the many issues
that affect our industry, and how this huge and
influential organization called Farm Bureau
develops policy on those issues. I hope that my
successor will enjoy it as much as I have.
Thank you for giving me this wonderful opportunity.
I am well aware of the serious challenges
we face as young farmers. The high cost of
land, declining government support and
increasing government regulations are just a
few. If we want to stay in this industry and succeed, we will have to stick together and work
together to come up with solutions. Young
farmers involved in Farm Bureau will need to
step up to these challenges.
The YFR Committee has had an exciting
Continued on page 5
Exhibitor Seminars
Sunday, Jan. 8
9:30 – 10:15
“Investing in the Future of Agriculture”
Sponsored by Monsanto Co.
Speakers: Kim Magin Sutter and Jennifer
Garrett of Monsanto
10:30 – 11:15
“Animal ID, NAIS and Practical Farm
Bureau Solutions”
Sponsored by Kansas Farm Bureau
Speaker: Mark Nelson, KFB commodities
director
11:30 – 12:15
12:30 – 1:15
1:30 – 2:15
“Long-Term Care Insurance for State Farm
Bureaus”
Sponsored by Employee Benefits Corp. of
America (EBCA)
Speakers: Gary R. Gentrini, EBCA
executive vice president and general
manager, and Bob Nardone, EBCA regional
brokerage manager
“Leading Tractor Technology from John
Deere: The 8030 Series Tractors”
Sponsored by John Deere
Speakers: Barry Nelson and Ron Schwertner
of John Deere
“Cash In On Customer Demands”
Sponsored by United Soybean Board
Monday, Jan. 9
9 – 9:45
“Checkoff Investments: Creating Lifelong
Dairy Consumers”
Sponsored by Dairy Management Inc.
(DMI)
Speaker: Joe Bavido of DMI
10 – 10:45
“The Beef Checkoff’s Role in the Industry’s
Proposed Long-Range Plan”
Sponsored by the Beef Checkoff Program
Speaker: Monte Reese, chief operating
officer, Cattlemen’s Beef Board
11 – 11:45
“Canada-U.S. Agriculture Trade”
Sponsored by Agriculture & Agri-Food
Canada
Speakers: Fred Gorell and Ron Krystynak
12 – 12:45
“YF&R and Food Banks – How Harvest for
All Works”
Sponsored by America’s Second Harvest
Speaker: Judy Alberg
1 – 1:45
“Junior Master Horseman – Horsey
Teaching Tools for Kids”
Sponsored by American Quarter Horse
Association (AQHA)
Speaker: Christy Bramwell, AQHA
senior manager of youth activities
County Activities of Excellence – Farmer
Idea Exchange – Meet the Researchers
EXHIBITOR
BOOTH #
Boone County Farm Bureau (IN) ............................................804
Chenango County Farm Bureau (NY).....................................929
Clinton County Farm Bureau (IN) ..........................................905
DuPage County Farm Bureau (IL) ..........................................911
Genessee County Farm Bureau (NY)......................................904
Hillsdale County Farm Bureau (MI) .......................................910
Jackson-Vinton County Farm Bureau (OH) ............................808
Jefferson County Farm Bureau (KY) ......................................828
Kingman County Farm Bureau (KS).......................................816
Minnehaha County Farm Bureau (SD)....................................916
Okmulgee County Farm Bureau (OK) ....................................924
Orange County Farm Bureau (CA) .........................................822
Osceola County Farm Bureau (FL) .........................................920
Tulare County Farm Bureau (CA)...........................................923
Wright County Farm Bureau (MO) .........................................917
Dale Alvarez, Farmer Idea Exchange ......................................922
Robert Barnett, Farmer Idea Exchange ...................................927
Lary Bordeaux, Farmer Idea Exchange...................................914
Walter Bueker, Farmer Idea Exchange ....................................903
Kevin Buckstead, Farmer Idea Exchange ...............................826
Barbara Crain, Farmer Idea Exchange ....................................814
Clint Dearden, Farmer Idea Exchange ....................................802
EXHIBITOR
BOOTH #
Greg Ervin, Farmer Idea Exchange .........................................810
John Gipson, Farmer Idea Exchange.......................................915
Duane Gress, Farmer Idea Exchange ......................................909
George Hubka, Farmer Idea Exchange....................................820
Joe Paul Mattingly, Farmer Idea Exchange.............................921
Carl Seeliger, Farmer Idea Exchange ......................................902
Scott Travis, Farmer Idea Exchange........................................926
Roger Williamson, Farmer Idea Exchange..............................908
Sandra Bastin, Researcher .......................................................818
Normie Buehring, Researcher .................................................907
Peder Cuneo, Researcher .........................................................812
Jeanne Davis, Researcher ........................................................806
Conly Hansen, Researcher.......................................................901
Gerrit Hoogenboom, Researcher .............................................925
Richard Joost, Researcher........................................................919
Quirine Ketterings, Researcher................................................800
Andrew Landers, Researcher...................................................928
Britt Morris, Researcher ..........................................................913
John Paterson, Researcher .......................................................900
Mark Rice, Researcher.............................................................918
Fritz Roka, Researcher.............................................................906
Edwin White, Researcher ........................................................912
Welcome
knowledge and their leadership achievements against those of
their fellow YFRs.
The young farmers and ranchers who will compete in these
competitions here in Nashville have worked hard to get here.
They have competed and won at the state level. Now, they will
go up against the best of the best from around the country. I
extend my congratulations to all of this year’s competitors.
The Discussion Meet competition rounds are open to other
convention attendees. I welcome everyone to come and observe
the competition and see what our future leaders are made of. I’m
sure that you will be impressed.
None of these competitions and awards would be possible
without our sponsors: Dodge, Case IH, Cummins and Stihl.
Thank you! With your generous support, there’s an excitement,
an energy and a magic about these competitions that just wouldn’t be there otherwise. That support makes our national competition a big deal, and it pushes the competitors to take their game
to an even higher level.
I wish everyone a fun time and a productive meeting in
Nashville.
year. Once again, we have raised donations of food and money
and donated time to help feed the hungry through the Harvest for
All initiative. The final numbers aren’t in yet, but we are on
track to donate more than 2 million pounds of food, $120,000
and 8,000 volunteer hours over the last year.
The committee was also challenged this year to help raise
funds for agriculture’s response to the hurricanes that struck the
Gulf Coast. We worked with the AFBF Women’s Committee to
help raise funds for the Farm Bureau Hurricane Ag Fund. In
addition, young farmers and ranchers stepped up their ongoing
efforts to raise donations to food banks through Harvest for All.
This unprecedented fund raising effort fell quickly on the
heels of the effort to raise funds for victims of the Asian tsunami.
I thank all of the young farmers who got out there and worked to
help people thousands of miles away, but close to us in that we
all understand how devastating a natural disaster can be to a
farmer’s livelihood. The funds have helped farmers in the tsunami area buy new animals, equipment and seeds.
The year, once again, begins with exciting competitions
where young farmers and ranchers will test their agricultural
Sincerely,
Ben Boyd
AFBF Young Farmer & Rancher Chairman
Page 5
Showcase Exhibits
EXHIBITOR
BOOTH #
Ag Energy Work Group.................................................232
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada...............................416, 418
Agriculture Solutions/Beef Verification Solutions .......610
Agricultural Marketing Resource Center......................710
American Farm Bureau Foundation
for Agriculture.............................................................128, 130, 132
American Farm Bureau Insurance Services Inc ...........410
American Farm Bureau Women’s Committee..............134
American Sugar Alliance...............................................721
American Quarter Horse Youth Association.................622
America’s Heartland ......................................................617, 619
America’s Second Harvest.............................................512
Amerisight Inc................................................................731
Ameritas Group Dental and Eyecare ............................733
AmerLink Log Homes...................................................712
Arkansas Farm Bureau ..................................................500, 502
Beltone Electronics ........................................................513
BioJuvenate Engineered Skin Care...............................728
Case IH ...........................................................................100
Cattlemen’s Beef Board.................................................629
Choice Hotels International ...........................................430
Creative Benefit Design Inc ..........................................732
DMD Marketing.............................................................300
Dodge..............................................................................210
Double S Liquid Feed Services Inc...............................122
Dairy Management Inc ..................................................623
Employee Benefits Corp. of America ...........................516
Environmental Protection Agency ................................621
European Union Delegation to the U.S. .......................504, 506
Farm Bureau Connection/IBFA Acquisition LLC........718, 720, 722
Farm Bureau Safety and Health Network.....................136
Farm Safety 4 Just Kids.................................................243
Farm Service Agency (USDA)......................................229
Forestandrange.org/University of Tennessee ................518
Fastline Publications ......................................................511
Florida Agricultural Marketing......................................728
Fort Dodge Animal Health ............................................120
Georgia Peanut Commission .........................................110, 112
Grainger ..........................................................................300
Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative .........................412
Hawaii Agventures.........................................................531
Holiday Inn Capitol........................................................517
The Heartland Institute ..................................................528
Humana Dental...............................................................730
Indiana Farm Bureau Inc ...............................................521, 523
John Deere......................................................................400
Kentucky Farm Bureau..................................................520, 522
Making American Agriculture Productive and
Profitable (MAAPP) ...................................................228, 230
Monsanto Co ..................................................................420, 422
National Children’s Center for Rural and
Agricultural Health .....................................................241
National Council of Agricultural Employers................613
National Institute for Animal Agriculture .....................510
Nationwide Document Solutions ..................................428
Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA)
Tennessee.....................................................................217
Oklahoma Farm Bureau.................................................616, 618, 620
OMNI Brokerage ...........................................................116
Pet Partners Inc ..............................................................729
Progressive Agriculture Safety Days ............................239
Promotion & Education Programs/Michigan Farm Bureau
.........................................................................................329, 331
Propane Education and Research Council....................712
Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau .....................711
Safe Lites ........................................................................611
Scriptsave........................................................................529
Shamrock Leathers Inc ..................................................114
Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education............612
Tennessee Beef Industry Council..................................631, 633
Tennessee Farm Bureau.................................................328-342
(even), 429-443 (odd)
United Soybean Board...................................................628
USDA-Cooperative Research, Education & Extension
Service.........................................................................221
USDA-National Agricultural Library ...........................223
USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service............211
USDA-Pesticide Record Keeping .................................213
USDA-Rural Development ...........................................215
Page 6
Welcome to Nashville,
Farm Bureau Women
Ohio Farm Bureau
CONGRATULATES
Jackson/Vinton County FB
Jeff & Dena Wuebker,
Darke County
Andrea Myers,
Mahoning County
Jason Feldner, Noble County
NC Farm Bureau
SALUTES
YF&R STATE WINNERS
Achievement - Bo Stone
Discussion - Trent Uphoff
Excellence in Ag
- Luke Beam
CONGRATULATES
DISCUSSION MEET
WINNER
Rob Sharkey
CONGRATULATES
EXCELLENCE
IN AG AWARD WINNER
Jeff & Joanie Steirs
CONGRATULATES
ACHIEVEMENT
AWARD WINNER
Mark & Janeen Peterson
Iowa Farm Bureau
CONGRATULATES
YF&R DISCUSSION
MEET COMPETITOR
Russell Meade,
Johnson County
Iowa Farm Bureau
SALUTES
YF&R ACHIEVEMENT
AWARD COMPETITORS
Steve and Amy Swenka,
Johnson County
Iowa Farm Bureau
RECOGNIZES
YF&R EXCELLENCE
IN AG COMPETITOR
Rebecca Hosek,
Tama County
Mississippi Farm Bureau
CONGRATULATES
ACHIEVEMENT
AWARD WINNERS
John & Julie Ingram
Mississippi Farm Bureau
CONGRATULATES
DISCUSSION MEET
WINNER
Chris Wilkinson
American Farm
Bureau Federation
HONORS
Farm Bureau competitors, volunteers and members
from every state for making our organization the largest
and strongest in the nation!
I am pleased to welcome everyone to this
year’s American Farm Bureau Federation convention and annual meeting. For all attendees,
the convention is a time to
recharge our excitement
about our industry, to learn
about the economic and policy changes that will affect us
and develop strategies to
make our industry stronger.
It’s also a time when
Farm Bureau Women look
toward the future and debate
how to make ourselves
stronger—as women, as
farmers and as leaders.
Whether farm women
have been out in front or
worked behind the scenes,
they’ve always been an
important part of a farm’s ability to produce
and earn a profit. Now, women are more
involved in agriculture, and agricultural organizations, than ever before. The number of
women who are principal operators of farms
and ranches has increased. As women take a
more active role in their own operations, they
are also taking on weightier roles within the
industry as a whole.
That’s why the AFB Women’s Committee
envisions a future that is increasingly focused
on fostering and providing opportunities for
leadership by farm women. The AFBF board
of directors last October approved a new program of work for the committee. Titled
“Planting Seeds to Harvest Leaders,” the program will give women the skills and confidence they need to communicate within the
industry, to the general public and to elected
officials.
Every time I attend a meeting of Farm
Bureau Women, I am excited to watch as
women realize what they can do with the leadership abilities they have and, perhaps, new
skills that they pick up through the leadership
training available through Women’s
Committees around the country. I am energized when I think of the growing potential of
Farm Bureau women to influence the direction
of their industry.
Of course, this new direction still
includes the many important programs that
Farm Bureau has come to rely on the Women’s
Committee to accomplish. Food Check-Out
Week, ongoing agricultural education work
and fund raising—these efforts will not only
continue. They will continue to get better and
better.
The convention always
reminds me of how impressive Farm Bureau is as an
organization. I can’t think of
any other national organization that gives its members
so much control over its
direction, or gives them so
many opportunities to learn
and do. And I am continually
impressed by the members
themselves. They always step
up to attend the meetings,
make the lobbying calls and
visits and take on more leadership roles, even when it
means that the work on the
farm will have to be done earlier in the morning or later at night in order to get it all done.
The commitment they show to Farm Bureau
and to agriculture is amazing, and that’s what
makes Farm Bureau a force to be reckoned
with.
And, I have never been more impressed
with Farm Bureau than I am this year. Farm
Bureau Women and others around the country
have helped raise nearly $1 million for agricultural victims of the hurricanes that hit the
Gulf Coast in August and September. I understand that number could easily go over the $1
million mark any day now. And this followed
an amazing effort by both the Women’s
Committee and the Young Farmer & Rancher
Committee to raise nearly $70,000 for the victims of the Asian tsunami.
These efforts show that we are willing to
work not only for our own interests through
our lobbying efforts, but also to help others.
But, more importantly, it will help others get
back on their feet and, we hope, continue
farming.
The achievements of 2005 have been
momentous, but I remain convinced that the
AFB Women’s Committee’s most exciting
days are ahead. I look forward to seeing you,
and discussing our future. Best wishes for a
successful convention.
Sincerely,
Terry Gilbert
AFB Women’s Committee Chair
FB Women’s
Schedule of Events
AFB Women’s Headquarters: Governors’ Chamber D
Sunday, Jan. 8
Monday, Jan. 9
10:30 –
Regional Caucuses
11:30 a.m.
11:30 a.m.
Midwest – Governors’
– 12:30 p.m. Luncheon
Ballroom D
Northeast – Governors’
Ballroom E
South – Governors’ Ballroom C
West – Governors’ Ballroom A
11:30 a.m.
Women’s Luncheon/Business
– 1:30 p.m. Session (by ticket only)
Presidential Ballroom A&B
State Women’s Committee Chair
Magnolia Ballroom
JANUARY
Jan. 8 – 11, 2005
Thousands of Farm Bureau members convened in Charlotte, N.C., for the
86th American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting. Highlights included a
speech by former New York City major Rudolph Giuliani, and AFBF President
Bob Stallman’s yearly address, in which he called on Congress to live up to the
commitments in the 2002 farm bill. Farmers are living up to their commitment
“by providing safe, abundant and affordable food for this country.” In return, he
said, Congress should let the farm bill run its course.
Jan. 19, 2005
AFBF announced the creation of a Farm Bureau tsunami relief fund to help
subsistence farmers in southeast Asia who were devastated by the tsunami of
December 2004. About $67,000 was raised for the fund, which helped Asian
farmers buy replacement livestock, equipment and seeds.
FEBRUARY
Feb. 7, 2005
AFBF once again celebrated national Food Check-Out Day in recognition
of the day by which Americans, on average, have earned enough income to
afford their food supply for the whole year. The national event, spearheaded by
the Farm Bureaus around the country Women’s Committee, draws attention to
the affordability of food in the U.S. Farm Bureau also made sizable contributions to Ronald McDonald House Charities.
March 2, 2005
A U.S. appeals court ruled that EPA could not force livestock producers to
file for pollution discharge permits based merely on a “potential to discharge.”
AFBF had argued to the court that requiring permits for any potential to discharge would be like requiring someone who doesn’t drive to get a driver’s
license. EPA has been working since then to rewrite its rules for large livestock
farms.
March 18, 2005
The annual Farm Bureau survey of young farmers and ranchers showed
that their top concerns were land availability and ensuring a larger role for
renewable fuels in the nation’s energy supply.
APRIL
April 21, 2005
AFBF announced that it would sponsor, along with the Monsanto Co., a
new weekly public television program celebrating agriculture. The show, titled
“America’s Heartland,” began airing a few months later, in September.
MAY
May 23, 2005
The Supreme Court ruled that the national beef checkoff was constitutional
and could continue. AFBF had filed a brief in support of maintaining the checkoff, saying that it increases consumer demand, funds research and development
of improved beef products and helps promote export growth. The ruling also
set a precedent that will help maintain other industry-funded commodity promotion and research programs.
JUNE
June 23, 2005
The Supreme Court ruled in the Kelo v. City of New London case that governments could take property from landowners and turn it over to other private
entities that promise to generate economic development and more tax revenues
from the property. The ruling fired up the debate over eminent domain, and
launched national and state efforts to limit the effect of the Kelo ruling. As part
of that effort, AFBF launched its Stop Taking Our Property or STOP campaign
to educate lawmakers and the public about the negative impact the ruling could
have, particularly on owners of farmland.
JULY
July 28, 2005
The House passed the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade
Agreement (CAFTA), following Senate passage in June. House passage sent
the bill to the president to be signed into law. AFBF supported CAFTA, saying
it would increase U.S. agricultural exports by nearly $1.5 billion per year once
the agreement was fully implemented.
Feb. 10-12, 2005
Approximately 1,500 Farm Bureau members, leaders and staff attended the
National Leadership Conference in New Orleans, La. In addition to in-depth
seminars on agricultural issues, the conference featured speeches by AFBF
President Bob Stallman, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and former
Senator John Breaux, who was then co-chairing President Bush’s tax reform
advisory panel. In addition, several state Farm Bureaus received FBACT
awards for participation by their volunteers and staff in grassroots lobbying
efforts, and the 2004 Partners in Agricultural Leadership (PAL) class graduated.
The PAL program trains young farmers to serve as advocates and spokespersons for agriculture.
MARCH
March 1, 2005
AFBF announced that Farm Bureau members around the country had
raised more than $121,000 and donated nearly 2.5 million pounds of food in
2004 as part of the Harvest for All initiative. They also donated nearly 5,000
hours of their time to hunger relief efforts at local food banks, churches, homeless shelters and community centers. Harvest for All is a joint effort between
Farm Bureau and America’s Second Harvest, the nation’s largest network of
food banks.
AUGUST
Aug. 8, 2005
The comprehensive energy bill was signed into law, establishing a renewable fuels standard that will require the nation’s fuel supply to consist of 7.5
billion gallons of ethanol and biodiesel by 2012. The bill also extended tax
credits for energy production from renewable sources such as wind and biomass.
Saturday, January 7 Sunday, January 8, 2006
Nashville, TN
SEPTEMBER
Sept. 1, 2005
AFBF launched a nationwide
agricultural hurricane relief effort
in response to Hurricane Katrina,
which struck the Gulf Coast in late
August. The Farm Bureau
Hurricane Ag Fund provided a way
for Americans to assist farm families and rural residents specifically,
and help them get back to the business of agricultural production. To date, the
fund has grown to nearly $1 million.
DECEMBER
Dec. 8, 2005
OCTOBER
Oct. 6, 2005
AFBF announced that the Farm Bureau-Dodge incentive program was
renewed for 2006. The program provides a $500 incentive to Farm Bureau
members who purchase certain Dodge vehicles. Farm Bureau members saved
more than $25
million through the program over the last year. Dodge is
also an important sponsor of Farm Bureau’s
Young Farmer & Rancher
programs.
NOVEMBER
Nov. 3, 2005
The House passed a bill to withhold federal funds from state and local
governments that use eminent domain for economic development purposes.
AFBF supported the bill to limit the impact of the Supreme Court’s Kelo ruling.
AFBF announced that Farm Bureau had posted another year of membership growth, adding more than 94,000 families to its ranks. Farm Bureau
membership totals 5,712,515 nationwide. AFBF President Bob Stallman said
the continued growth showed that Farm Bureau responds to the program and
service needs of its members, and the growth would make Farm Bureau an
even stronger voice on behalf of American agriculture.
Dec. 12, 2005
The Making American Agriculture Productive and Profitable (MAAPP)
committee released its report of policy recommendations to ensure agriculture
is productive and profitable through 2019, when AFBF will celebrate its 100th
anniversary. The release of the report capped a two-year process of the MAAPP
committee studying numerous factors that affect agriculture today and into
the future.
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Page 11
County Farm Bureaus Demonstrate ‘Excellence’
County Farm Bureaus from around the country compete each year for the best new program
idea, and the American Farm Bureau Federation
recognizes their initiative. Over the last year, that
recognition program was revamped, with a new
name and new program categories.
Renamed the County Activities of Excellence
competition, the program recognizes county programs in five categories: Education & Ag
Promotion; Leadership Promotion; Member
Services; Policy Implementation; and Public
Relations & Information.
The following are winning county programs
for 2006. Convention goers can learn more about
these programs by visiting each county’s display in
the Showcase. See page 5 for a list of the county
booths.
Agriculture Education Expo, DuPage
County, Ill. – The Agriculture Education Expo is a
two-day event held at the county fairgrounds.
Third- and fourth-grade students visit six informal
classroom settings, where they learn about how
each ingredient on a pizza has a direct connection
to agriculture. They also learn about the many
careers in agriculture, while their teachers pick up
ideas to use in their classrooms. On average, 1,100
students, 43 teachers and 25 parents participate in
the expo every year. Since it began 12 years ago,
132,000 students, 516 teachers and 300 parents
have participated in the event. Several students
who have attended the program have gone on to
pursue careers or fields of study in agriculture.
(Education & Ag Promotion)
Ag Tour for City and County Planning
Department & News Media, Tulare County,
Calif. – Tulare County Farm Bureau hosted an
agricultural tour for city and county planning
departments, planning consultants and media to
educate decision makers about the issues agriculture faces, particularly in light of urban growth in
the county. Tulare County is the No. 1 dairy producing county in the nation. However, that status
is threatened by the loss of productive farmland to
urban development. The tour educated planners
and the news media about the importance of maintaining the county’s top industry: agriculture. The
program also aimed to have county planners look
at Farm Bureau members as resources who could
answer their questions about agriculture and help
them make better decisions. (Public Relations &
Information)
Creating High Visibility, Chenango
County, N.Y. – The Chenango County Farm
Bureau began the “Creating High Visibility” program to select a high visibility location for a new
county Farm Bureau office, increase public awareness of and participation in Farm Bureau programs
and bring in new members. Hundreds of people
attended the grand opening of the new office. In
addition, a guest book and forum page was added
to the county Farm Bureau’s Web site. The focus
of the program was bringing both new and old
technology together to make the county Farm
Bureau more visible. Now, instead of hearing,
“Where are you located?” county Farm Bureau
officials hear, “Oh, yours is the office with the big
‘Farms Keep NY Growing’ signs on the building.
We love them!” (Public Relations & Information)
Driver Safety Campaign, Hillsdale
County, Mich. – The Driver Safety Campaign
was created to implement a local resolution “to
promote the use of and the education about SMV
(Slow Moving Vehicle) signs” and reduce vehiclefarm machinery accidents. The county Farm
Bureau provided a video, “In the Blink of an Eye,”
to all driver education programs in the county,
designed and built a portable billboard to remind
drivers to watch for slow-moving farm machinery
and designed educational slides to be shown
before feature films at the movie theater in the
county. It’s estimated that 50,000 people have
viewed the movie slides, and thousands more have
seen the moving billboard. The project has
increased visibility for Farm Bureau and promoted
safety on the roads. (Policy Implementation)
Farm Bureau Week Kickoff, Okmulgee
County, Okla. – Through the designation of
“Farm Bureau Week,” this program was aimed at
increasing exposure to Farm Bureau. Media coverage of the proclamation signing and “Bread Day,”
in which the Women’s Committee distributed fresh
cinnamon rolls to county officials and staff, the
public became more aware of Farm Bureau and
what it does. Other components of the program
included an open house, a donation presented to
the city fire department for a fire safety in schools
program, and the grand opening of a new satellite
office. The open house and grand opening were
attended by city, county and state government officials. (Public Relations & Information)
Farm Bureau’s Town and Country Show,
Minnehaha County, S.D. – Minnehaha County
Farm Bureau has created a one-hour radio talk
show focusing on how agriculture affects all consumers. Each show deals with one topic and features one or more guests who are knowledgeable
about it. Callers are able to ask questions of the
hosts and guests. Farm Bureau policy and programs are woven into the discussions. Not only
has listener feedback been positive, but the show
has also helped forge stronger connections with
guests and the groups they represent. (Education &
Ag Promotion)
Farming the Courthouse, Clinton County,
Ind. – Agriculture is an important economic
engine in many Indiana counties. The state government has identified livestock agriculture, in particular, as a growth sector in the state’s economic
renewal. This event presented county government
officials with facts about how livestock industry
expansion benefits the county’s economy, and
helped dispel myths about the livestock industry.
The county Farm Bureau president presented the
results of a survey that showed that residents have
confidence in the livestock industry and favor the
industry’s growth in the county. (Education & Ag
Promotion)
Hog Wild, Jackson-Vinton Counties, Ohio
– The Hog Wild program was originally intended
to raise money for the county Youth and
Scholarship programs. It turned out to also be a
way to promote awareness of the Jackson-Vinton
County Farm Bureaus and their activities. Local
businesses purchased oversized “piggy banks,”
which they painted and displayed. Residents then
voted for “Top Hog,” depending on which piggy
bank was decorated the best. “Piggy Page” advertising created support for all of the local pigs and
provided a way for residents to see and compare
them. The Hog Wild event raised $5,500 to support the Youth and Scholarship programs in the
local community. The contest was tied in to a local
festival and created buzz in the community. The
state Farm Bureau, seeing the success of the event,
has now created a statewide “Porks of Art” contest. (Public Relations & Information)
Osceola Farm-City Days, Osceola County,
Fla. – Osceola Farm-City Days is a popular twoday event to educate the public about agriculture.
It includes farm tours for government leaders and
the general public. Also, schoolchildren visit various stations to learn about different aspects of agriculture. The kids juice oranges, plant flowers and
participate in other hands-on projects. The event
takes place during national Farm-City Week, and
has won recognition from the National Farm-City
Council and the Institute of Food and Agricultural
Sciences. Teachers bring their classes back year
after year. With a single event, the program successfully targets different audiences: government
officials, children, teachers and the general public.
Partners in Membership and Partners in
Growth, Wright County, Mo. – Wright County
Farm Bureau teamed up with a local Dodge dealer,
Wehr Dodge, and held Farm Bureau Day to pro-
mote Farm Bureau membership benefits, including
the Dodge rebate program. The all-day event
included a petting zoo, donkey rides and prize
giveaways. Farm machinery and equipment were
on display. The Dodge dealer provided hot dogs
and hamburgers, the county provided drinks and a
local dairy provided ice cream. The county Farm
Bureau was able to sign up several new members,
based on the membership services and benefits
they learned about. (Member Services)
The Field of Greens, Orange County,
Calif. – Picture an empty lot filled with weeds.
Envision farmers and community leaders concerned about nutrition and hunger problems in
Orange County. Now, add Orange County Farm
Bureau volunteers, the Second Harvest food bank
and the Orange County Register newspaper. What
you get is a dream come true: “The Field of
Greens.” It’s a three-acre farm that was created to
produce year-round fresh fruits and vegetables for
distribution to people who need food assistance.
The Orange County Farm Bureau donated time
and materials to prepare the vacant lot for planting.
Students from local schools and clubs grew
seedlings and transplanted them into the garden.
Second Harvest volunteers maintained, harvested
and distributed the produce. The project has
allowed members of an urban county to get in
touch with their agrarian roots while helping to
alleviate hunger. (Education & Ag Promotion)
The Green Ribbon Safety Campaign,
Boone County, Ind. – The Green Ribbon Safety
Campaign began as a result of an accident in
which a young farmer was killed. Three women in
the county decided that greater awareness of farm
implements on public roads was needed. They
came up with the idea of handing out green magnetic ribbons with the slogan “Be Patient & Kind:
Stay Behind.” The sister-in-law of the young
farmer who lost his life came up with the slogan.
The program also funds a scholarship in the name
of the young farmer for one FFA member each
year. Several local businesses have gotten
involved. To date, some 10,000 ribbons are floating across Indiana, raising awareness of the need to
slow down and stay behind slow-moving farm
implements. (Education & Ag Promotion)
The National Federation of the Blind
Convention, Jefferson County, Ky. – The
National Federation of the Blind Convention took
place in Louisville, Ky., in July 2005. One objective of the convention is to expose blind children to
new and wonderful experiences. The Jefferson
County Farm Bureau participated by setting up a
variety of stations with traditional and non-traditional livestock, such as goats, chickens and ducklings, and unique plants. By letting the children use
their hands and sense of smell, they were able to
experience agriculture even if they couldn’t see it.
The children were educated about the role that
agriculture plays in our communities, and they
were encouraged to participate in 4-H and FFA.
They all walked away with a smile, and nothing
reflects a positive result better than a happy child.
The SMART Center Mobile Unit, Genesee
County, N.Y. – The Mobile Unit is a 24-foot
enclosed van that has been converted from an auxiliary classroom to an agricultural teaching tool at
farmers’ markets, fairs, festivals and other community events. A canvas of designs both outside and
inside the unit portrays agriculture in the county.
The unit rolls into events and captures the curiosity
of the crowd. The original target audience was
school-aged children; however, teachers, parents
and volunteers have all become better informed as
a result of experiencing the hands-on activities.
Young children are asking where the unit will be
next, so they can ask their parents to take them to
the next event so they can “play some more.”
TENNESSEE: A national leader in
horses, hardwood, music and more
In addition to its 569,000-plus residents,
Nashville is also home to perhaps the most
well-known entity in Tennessee, the Grand Ole
Opry. The Grand Ole Opry was established as
and remains a live weekly Saturday night
radio program featuring veteran and up-andcoming country music singers and musicians.
Having been broadcast on WSM radio since
Nov. 28, 1925, the Grand Ole Opry is the oldest continuous radio program in the United
States.
The popularity and longevity of the
Grand Ole Opry made Nashville a destination
city for budding country music singers, earning Nashville the nickname “Music City,
USA.” Many, if not most, of the inductees to
the Country Music Hall of Fame, also located
in Nashville, performed on the Grand Ole
Opry stage.
While the Grand Ole Opry began exclusively as a radio program, current generations
are more familiar with the Grand Ole Opry television broadcast, or if they’re lucky, the live
weekly show at the Grand Ole Opry House,
which became the home of the Opry in 1974.
Although the Opry was broadcast from
numerous venues as its popularity grew in the
decades following its debut, its most famous
venue prior to the Opry House was Ryman
Auditorium, which hosted the Opry for three
decades beginning in 1943. Tennessean Elvis
Presley, among many others, made his Grand
Ole Opry debut at the Ryman, which remains
an active concert venue and destination for
music lovers.
The Grand Ole Opry House is not the
only famous “house” within Nashville’s city
limits. It was in the Maxwell House Hotel in
the early 1890s that the coffee blend we now
know as Maxwell House was first served.
The blend was created by Nashville coffee wholesaler Joel Owsley Cheek. In 1892 he
convinced the manager of the Maxwell House
Hotel to serve the new blend to the guests. It
was well received and the hotel allowed Cheek
to use the Maxwell House name.
In addition to coffee perfectionists,
Nashville also boasts doctors and lawmakers.
One of the most well-known Nashville natives
is both. Current Senate Majority Leader Bill
Frist (R), who is also a surgeon, was born in
the city.
Another U.S. senator from Nashville rose
to even loftier heights. President Andrew
Jackson (1829-1837) was born in North
Carolina but made his home, both before and
after serving as president, in Nashville.
Jackson’s estate is called The Hermitage and is
open to visitors.
Country music stars, Maxwell House coffee and politicians are not Tennessee’s only
exports. With half of the state’s land—nearly
12 million acres—in farmland, the Volunteer
State’s farmers are among the top exporters of
cotton, soybeans, wheat and tobacco. Its top
five commodities are cattle, broilers, soybeans,
greenhouse and nursery products and cotton.
In addition, Tennessee is third in the
nation in the total number of horses. Texas and
California may have more horses, but only
Tennessee has a breed as a namesake, the
Tennessee Walking Horse.
Tennessee’s timber industry is also an
Page 12
Thanks to Hurricane Fund Donors for Helping Fellow Farmers
Farm Bureau wishes to
thank the following
people and organizations
who contributed to the
Farm Bureau Hurricane
Ag Fund. Your generosity
will help the victims with
agricultural losses recover
from Hurricanes Katrina,
Rita and Wilma, and is
greatly appreciated.
Alabama
ALFA Mutual Insurance Co.
Autauga County Farmers Federation
Baldwin County Farmers Federation
Barbour County Farmers Federation
Blount County Farmers Federation
Bullock County Farmers Federation
Calhoun County Farmers Federation
Cherokee County Farmers
Federation
Chilton County Farmers Federation
Clay County Farmers Federation
Cleburne County Farmers
Federation
Coffee County Farmers Federation
Colbert County Farmers Federation
Conecuh County Farmers
Federation
Covington County Farmers
Federation
Crenshaw County Farmers
Federation
Douglas Wigginton
Escambia County Farmers
Federation
Hal Lee
Hale County Farmers Federation
Houston County Farmers Federation
Lamar County Farmers Federation
Madison County Farmers Federation
Marengo County Farmers
Federation
Marshall County Farmers
Federation
Montgomery County Farmers
Federation
Morgan County Farmers Federation
Perry County Farmers Federation
Pickens County Farmers Federation
Randolph County Farmers
Federation
St. Clair County Farmers Federation
Sumter County Farmers Federation
Talladega County Farmers
Federation
Tallapoosa County Farmers
Federation
Tuscaloosa County Farmers
Federation
Walker County Farmers Federation
Washington County Farmers
Federation
Wilcox County Farmers Federation
Winston County Farmers Federation
Arkansas
Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation
E.F. & L.M. Welch
Eva Lee King
Garrett Brummer
Independence County Farm Bureau
Jack Matthews
Jacqueline Miller
Michael Solomon
Nina Sue Low
Poinsett County Farm Bureau
Robert Mathews
Stanley Reed Farm
Washington County Farm Bureau
Woodruff County EHC Council
Woodruff County Farm Bureau
Federation
Arizona
A-Tumbling-T Ranches
Farm Bureau Financial
Marilyn Rayburn
Richard & Sharon Saylor
California
Connie Hanks
Harter Farms
Larry Woody
Margaret Rodriguez
N.H. Dengler
Pauline Togliatti
R.D. & C.J. Ketchpel
San Luis Obispo County Farm
Bureau
Colorado
Angela & Charles Ryden
BCU-Middleboro
Colorado Farm Bureau Mutual
Insurance
Darwin D. Wille
Connecticut
Alyce & Burton Block
Paul Levin
Delaware
Delaware State Farm Bureau
Kent County Farm Bureau Inc.
Winkler Farms
Woodside Farm Inc.
Florida
Debra Baxley
Edward Albanesi
Erika Mueller
Ernest Houck
Robert Rounsevell
Witter Harvesting Inc.
Georgia
Charles Ewing
Emmette Vinson
George Reeves
Jennifer Whittaker
Midge Walker
Wildlife Farms
Hawaii
Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation
Iowa
Albert Smith
Andrew Hora
Aurel Henry
Berniece Wallace
Clifford Sams
Darrell Koehler
Dean & Natalie Kleckner
Dubuque County Farm Bureau
Earl Jones
Gerald Snethen
Ida County Farm Bureau
Iowa Farm Bureau Federation
Isaac Nolt
Jack Bornholdt Revocable Trust
Kathleen Van Donselaar
Leanne Cline
Linda Meyer
Lloyd Casteel
Loren Kruse
Marian Mohr
Marlys Berry
Meredith Corp.
Mitchell County Farm Bureau
Richard Huber
Richard Kittelson
Virginia L. Sage
William Ball
Idaho
Caribou County Farm Bureau
Cassia County Farm Bureau Inc.
Dave Veselka
Dean Schwendiman & Sons Inc.
Franklin County Farm Bureau
Idaho County Farm Bureau
Idaho Farm Bureau Federation
Jerome County Farm Bureau
Latah County Farm Bureau
Ray Poe
Twin Falls County Farm Bureau
Illinois
Adeline Geo-Karis
Alan Conro
Alice Hampton
Allan Levine
Alma Whitsitt
Amy & Adam Konwal
Ann Breitbarth
Arla Severson
Barbara Gay
Bartley Farms
Berta Rohrer
Betty Fewell
Betty Peddicord
Beverly Cecil
Bonnie Carter
Cargill Inc.
Carol and Ken Kashian
Carolyn Deblieck
Carroll County Farm Bureau
Cecelia Reschke
Charlene Rockenbach
Charles Federman
Charles Stickman Jr.
Concetta Rizzo
Cook County Farm Bureau
County Line Sod Busters
Craig Long
Crete Lefevre
Darlene Goelkel
Darlene Gummersheimer
David Lattan
Donald Tekampe
Doris Mosbacher
Douglas County Farm Bureau
Douglas Garwood
Douglas Yoder
DuPage County Farm Bureau
Edgar County Farm Bureau
Ellen Culver
Esther Gummersheimer
Evelyn Richards
Florence Pedersen
Frances Briney
Fred Krueger
Gardner Farm
Gene Luthy
George Cramer
Greene County Farm Bureau
Gregory Koeppen
Guy Vallett
Illinois Tool Works Foundation
Jackie Foster
James Aldeman
James Raupp
Janet Katz
Janet Stoll
Jean Lawrence
Jeanne Hurley
Jerry Hills
Jersey County Farm Bureau
John Anderko
Judith Knicely
Judith Shore
Karen Beelow
Kathleen & Donald Lindstedt
Kenneth Barclay
Kenneth Rohrer
Kevin Shan
Lake County Fair Association
Lake County Farm Bureau
Lakefield Farm
Larry Anderson
LaSalle County Farm Bureau
Laura Race
Linda Bentlage
Lois Dietrich
Lynn Bowman
Lynn Doolittle
Macon County Lady Landowners
Malgorzata Timberg
Marcia Morgan
Marilyn Parker
Mark Oglesby
Mary Groh
Mary Lou Flenniken
Melanie Hall
Mercer County Farm Bureau
Milton Miller
Nicholas Schaub
Nina Casteel
North Star Ice Cream Specialties
Inc.
Northern Illinois Steam Power Club
Patrick Flanigan
Patti McCaw
Peoria County Farm Bureau
Phillip & Sue Simpson
Phyllis Waite
Prairie Farms
Quality Plus Seed Co.
Rebecca Vanderveen
Richard Armstrong
Richard Williams
Robert Blair
Robert Mehring
Roger Capps
Roger Dickson
Ross Pauli
Ruth Klussendorf
Sandra & John Bednarik
Sharon Stickman
Shelby County Farm Bureau
Sherry Moore
Steven Stahl
Susan Cawood
Susan Rutan
T.J. Shambaugh
Tazewell County Farm Bureau
Tim Weesner
Timothy Phelps
Virgil & Jane Applequist
Warren-Henderson Farm Bureau
Wayne County Farm Bureau
Wilbert Knop
Woodland Acres Jersey Farm
Indiana
Barbara Foland
Barbara Jean Ford
Brown County Farm Bureau Inc.
Burton Wallace
C.E. Devore
Cass County Farm Bureau
Florence Yoder
Hamilton County Farm Bureau
Howard County Farm Bureau
Indiana Farm Bureau Inc.
Jackson County Farm Bureau Inc.
James Harsh
Joe Carithers
Joseph E. Kinnard
Karmen Zupancic
Kent Yeager
Korona Farms
Lottie Roberts Elliott
Madonna Mathies
Mary Elisabeth Keller
Mary Goings
Melissa Swan
Patricia Rutan
Robert Caldwell
Ronald Reed
St. Joseph County Farm Bureau
Vanberburgh County Farm Bureau
Vera Rusk
William F. Marvel
William Richardson
Kansas
Atchison County Farm Bureau
Association
Bernita Kinsler
Brown County Farm Bureau
Association
Carole Spohn
Carolyn McKain
Carolyn Michael
Century Farms Inc.
Charlene Bierly
Clay County Farm Bureau
Comanche County Farm Bureau
Association
Crawford County Farm Bureau
Debbie Hargrave
Doniphan County Farm Bureau
Association
Donna Simpson
Douglas County Farm Bureau
Association
Elizabeth Heder
Gwen Johnson
H&D Trust
Harper County Farm Bureau
Harvey County Farm Bureau
Helen & Thomas Norris
High Plains Publishers
James Congrove
Johnson County Farm Bureau
Association
Kansas Association of Conservation
Districts
Kansas Farm Bureau
Kari Neis
Ken Flagler
Kenneth Molzahn
Labette County Farm Bureau
Association
Leavenworth County Farm Bureau
Association
Lee Moege
Leslie & Lola Droge
Lyon County Farm Bureau
Association
Marjory Scheufler
Martha Rose
Mary Kohls
Miami County Farm Bureau
Association
Montgomery County Farm Bureau
Association
Norman A. Schill
Pratt County Farm Bureau
Association
Preston Beeman
Reno County Farm Bureau
Association
Rice County Farm Bureau
Association
Robert Harden
Ruth Walz
Sam Eash
Sharon Beeman
Shawnee County Farm Bureau
Steve & Patricia Baccus
Verna M. Trost
Virginia Schrader Trust
William Norman Jr.
Wyandotte County Farm Bureau
Kentucky
Adair County Farm Bureau
Allen County Farm Bureau
Baker Farms Inc.
Ballard County Farm Bureau
Barbara Whitaker
Bath County Farm Bureau
Bell County Farm Bureau
Boone County Farm Bureau
Boyle County Farm Bureau
Breathitt County Farm Bureau
Calloway County Farm Bureau
Campbell County Farm Bureau
Cedar Ridge Farm
Charles Osborne
Charles Woodford
Crittenden County Farm Bureau
Crowe Farms
Cumberland County Farm Bureau
Inc.
David Lyle
Doris Hamilton
Fayette County Farm Bureau
Floyd Greene Insurance
Frances Begley
Fulton County Farm Bureau
Hardin County Farm Bureau
Hopkins County Farm Bureau
Jefferson County Farm Bureau
Jo Ann Holloway
Johnson County Farm Bureau
Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation
Kentucky Farm Bureau Mutual
Insurance
Lincoln County Farm Bureau
Magoffin County Farm Bureau
Martin County Farm Bureau
Mary Bryant
Mercer County Farm Bureau
Federation
Micah Lester
Michael Crane Insurance
Nelson County Farm Bureau
Ohio County Farm Bureau
Oldham County Farm Bureau
Pamela Phillips
Perry County Farm Bureau
Pulaski County Farm Bureau
Richard Blain
Robert Porter Insurance
Russell County Farm Bureau
T. Haven Miller
Terry & Bennie Gilbert
Tommy Reynolds
Victor Rexroat
Webster County Farm Bureau
Whitley County Farm Bureau
Wilson’s Fur & Ginseng
Wolfe County Farm Bureau
Massachusetts
Alex Dowse
Alfred McKinstry
Alice Owen
Amelia Sirum
Anne Barnes
Anne Marie Walker
Ashley Holmes
Barbara Richmond
Berkshire County Farm Bureau
Bettina Bemis
Beverly Westerveld
Bruce Quevillon
Carol Taylor
Caroline Chadwick
Caroline Green
Caroline McKellar
Caroline Wiejek
Catherine Green
Cathryn Chadwick
Cavicchio Greenhouses Inc.
Christina Eckelkamp
Cistercian Nuns of the Strict
David Johnson
Dawn Steim
Donald Amadon
Donald Haitsma
Donald Snow Jr.
Dorothy Seidel
Dowse Orchards
E. Irene Congdon
Eligio Forgetta
Ernest Galliford
Essex Agricultural Society
Farmers Live Animal Market
Exchange Inc.
Francis Phillips
Frank Schulz
Frank White
Furnace Brook Farm
George Hunt
George Simonian Jr.
Gladys Chase
Harold Newton
Henry Sambel
Hersee Excavating
Honey Pot Hill Orchards
Ioka Valley Farm LLC
J.F. Nugent
Jacqueline Vital
James & Philip Hoffman
James Dunn
Jane Scott
Janet Hanelt
Janet Knowlton
June Johnson
Katherine Payne
Kenneth Avery
K.L. Nickerson
Landscapes by Earthcare Inc.
Laura Rossbach
Laurie Chaplin
Leda Drouin
Linda Edelman
Linda Osburn
Linda Varney
Liolia Schipper
Luand Farm
Marini Farms
Martha Flint
McNamara Farms Inc.
Middlesex County Farm Bureau
Mill Iron Farm
Morning Glory Farm
Myron Ingham
New Beginnings Farm
Newland Farm Inc.
Norman Loftus
Oliver Scott
Orrin Mason Jr.
Patricia Galliford
Patricia Yagmin
Pauline Boisseau
Peter Schriber
Peter Yapp
Plymouth County Farm Bureau
Powers Farm
Reed Brothers Farms
Richard Rossetti
Robert Alberghini
Robert Daniels
Robert Goodman
Robert Schiavi
Robin Shively
Rogers Spring Hill Farm Inc.
Rotondo Farm
Ruth Houlden
Ruthann Lenihan
Shirley Esty
Simmons Farm & Greenhouse
Skipper Manter
Snohomish County Dairywomen
Specialty-Apple Mail Orders
Superior Landscape Inc.
Susan Kirby
Susan Price
Sweetened Water Association Inc.
Terrance Pimental
The Beulah Land Maintainers
The Strain Family Equestrian Center
Virginia Crafts
Wayne Smith
William Doe
Wilma Foley
Maryland
Anne Arundel County Farm Bureau
Anne Arundel County Young
Farmers
Bill & Marsha Purcell
Calvert County Farm Bureau
Charles County Farm Bureau
Don Lipton
Emma Schramm II
Frederick County Farm Bureau
Jane Shifler
Jean & John Bennis
Karen Small
Maryland Farm Bureau Inc.
Inc.
Robin & Earl Hance
Sue Anderson
Terry Francl
Theo & Helen Pizanias
Todd Greenstone
Vincent Berg
Wicomico County Farm Bureau Inc.
Wicomico County Young Farmers
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Farm Bureau
Federation Inc.
Michigan
Abigail King
Amanda Fitz
Amber Snater
Amy Peters
Amy Pline
Andrea Thorne
Andrew Bean
Angela Laidlaw
Angela Mills
Angela Rademacher
Ann Spitzley
Ardith Miller
Arthur Kelley
Beth Goodman
Beth Hirschi
Beth Matthews
Bette Chapman
Betty Schaible
Beverly Gross
Beverly Kosloski
Beverly Loszewski
Bonnie Bowen
Bonnie Vice
Bosserd Family Farms
Bradley Nowak-Baker
Brandon Worrall
Brandy Johnson
Brenda Hettinger
Brent Rankin
Brian Songer
Cal Timmer
Calhoun County Farm Bureau
Carol Emery
Carmen Manns
Caroline Marsh
Carolyn McNamara
Cass County Farm Bureau
Catherine Elliott
Catherine Knudson
Catherine Lovejoy
Catherine Rowell
Cathleen Meska
Cathy Butkovich
Charleen McGaffey
Charles Biewer
Cheri Barnhart
Cheri Buehler
Cheri Friar
Chris Girard
Christie Russell
Colleen Dyer
Colleen Hoppes
Connie Hengesbach
Corrine McMillon
Cristal Anderson
Crystal Van Antwerp
Cynthia Barton-Spencer
Cynthia Brogan
Cynthia Kluger
Cynthia Terwilliger
Daniel Briggs
Daniel O’Shea
Darlene Hardy
Darline Walker
Dave Rowe
David Baker
David Johnson
David McBride
David Vanderhaagen
Dawn Dent
Dawn Elzinga
Debbie Williams
Deborah Andrews
Deborah Ezop
Deborah Schmidt
Debra Brandsen
Debra Dennis
Debra Tarkowski
Deb’s Cleaning
Denise Risdon
Dennie Olson
Dennis Roy
Diane Franz
Dolores Sonday
Donald Walker
Donna Osgood
Dorothy Gimmey
Doug Bordas
Douglas Atkinson
Douglas Kammann
Edward Waltz
Elaine Detrich-Long
Elizabeth Stucko
Elizabeth Tuma
Erica Breaugh
Erin Bancroft
Farm Bureau EAA
Farm Bureau Insurance
Frieda Strobel
Gail Kendall
Gail Rochon
Gary Weber
Gerald Perkins
Gladwin County Farm Bureau
Glen Hoeppner
Glenda Rossell
Gloria Westveld
Gordon Lange
Greg Finch
Gregory Fleet
Gregory Waldie
Heidi Mender
Holly & Matthew Smego
Huron County Farm Bureau
Ida White
Jack Walker Insurance Agency
Jackie Kebler
James Camp
James Robinson
James Vedder
Jamie Deller
Jamie Miller
Jamie Vervaras
Jane Fedewa
Jane Ignash
Janice Wieber
Janine Henrizi
Janna Kraici
Jason Powell
Jean White
Jeanne Stewart
Jeannine Jewell
Jeffrey Boog
Jeffrey Shields
Jenna Schrot
Jennifer Botek
Jennifer Lembright
Jennifer Miller
Jennifer Rusnock
Jill Corrin
Jill Rigoulot
Jim Abplanalp
Joanne Gooewin
Joe Blanchard
Joey Blanchard
John Goodrich
John Kran
John Leary
John Mowery II
John Queen
John Vanasperen
John Wilkins
Johnson Trust
Joseph Marble
Joshua Hewitt
Joshua Murgittroyd
Joyce Peetz
Judy Hyde
Judy Kuebler
Julie Ciesluk
Justin Lowell
Kari Milbourne
Kartes Insurance Services
Katherine Martin
Kathie Lumbert
Kathleen Bystry
Kathryn Boltz
Kathryn Ludington
Kathryn Noel
Kathryn Sutton
Kathy Nugent
Keith De Zwaan
Kelley Babbitt
Kelly Minaya
Kendra Snater
Kenneth Pangborn
Kent County Farm Bureau
Korie Spritzley
Kristi Kirkpatrick
Kurt Simon
Kwanyong Uh
Labeau Agency
LAFCU
Landheer Insurance Agency
Larry Cool
Larry Vannorman
Larry Webb Agency
Laura Smith
Lauren Jackson
Lauren Ward
Laurie George
Leann Hengesbach
Lee Goodrich
Leigh Carey
Lenoe Pichler
Leslie Davenport
Linda Huson
Linda Meyer
Linda Thelen
Lindsey Davis
Lisa Davis
Lisa Fedewa
Lisa Johnson
Lisa Keusch
Lisa Lee
Lisa Pruden
Lisa Starr
Lisa Wakeman
Livingston County Farm Bureau
Lori Blumer
Lori Chamberlain
Lou Ann Michael
Louise McCreery
M. Boog
M. Loren Carlisle Agency
Macomb County Farm Bureau
Marcia Merando
Margaret Trayler
Marianne Lull
Marie Holdwick
Marilyn Horton
Marilyn Miller
Marion Ashbay
Marion Stephens
Mark Darling
Mark Hop
Mark Lange
Mark Patterson
Mark Wright
Marvin Schwab Insurance
Mary Hohlstein
Mary Hoppes
Mary Miller
Mary Sue Branstetter
Mary Yang
Mary Ziegler
Mashon Hoppes
Matthew Moran
Matthew Scramlin
Megan Wheaton
Melanie Baker
Melanie Conran
Melinda Pung
Melissa Crandall
Michael Knickerbocker
Michael Longstreet
Michael McKeon
Michael Tedman
Michael Wenkel
Michele Luttig
Michelle Berry
Michelle Carson
Michelle Cybulski
Michelle Goodman
Michigan Farm Bureau
Missaukee County Farm Bureau
M.J. Winters
M’Lissa Walley
Monica Almy
Nancy Bates
Nancy Fuller
Nancy Kranich
Nancy Mead
Nancy Thelen
Norma Corzo-Arias
Norma Hampton
Norma Standley
N.W. Michigan Farm Bureau Inc.
Oakland County Farm Bureau
P.E. Pulley
P. Horak
Pam MacCready
Pamela Godbey
Pamela Hicks
Pamela McDaniel
Pamela Montague
Pamela Rogers
Pamela Shauhnessy
Patricia Andrews
Patricia Cotter
Patricia Dolan
Patricia Williams
Paul Karafa
Paul Mission
Peggy Abood
Peggy Braun
Peggy Zettle
Penny Bulock
Peter Quakkelaar
Phillip Dieck
Popovski Insurance Agency
Prima Church
R.A. Lapland & Associates
Ranee Vermeesch
Raymond West
Rene O’Brien
Rhonda Meyers
Richard Gleason
Richard Keilen
Richard Messing
Richard Miller
Richard Murray
Richard Piana
Richard Schafer
Rita Wright
Robert Girvin
Robert Luxmore
Robin Slack
Ron Hicks
Ronald McInnes
Ronald Nelson
Rosemary Thelen
Ruby Boyse
Sally Blue
Sally Hartsuff
Sandra Dent
Sandra Jury
Sandra Schafer
Sandra Simon
Sara Burnie
Sarah Black
Sarah Crispin
Sarah Pion
Sarah Schreiber
Schmucker Farms
Scott Fair Agency
Scott Lonier
Scott Warren Agency
Shanna Donaldson
Shannon Sharp-Ostrander
Sharon Carlson
Sharon Creswell
Sharon McElroy
Sharon Norton-White
Sharon Oatman
Sheila North
Shelly Holmes
Sherry Martin
Shirley Summers
Sonja Jurzysta
Staci Thelen
Stefani Rankin
Steven Hummer
Steven Rock
Susan Dec
Susan Domzalski
Susan Earley
Susan Esch-Lohr
Susan Feldpausch
Susan Gordon
Susan Hartenburg
Suzanne Reed
Sylvia Bittner
Tammy Rinckey
Tamra Thelen
Teresa Yeakey
Terrance Watts
Thelma Bloom
Theresa Moore
Thomas Carter
Thomas Dillman
Thomas Fitzsimons
Thomas Hardenbergh
Thomas Parker
Thomas Schrote
Thomas Stoeckle
Thomas Wiseman
Tim Heffner Agency
Timothy Barry
Tom French
Tracy Germain
Valerie Hodges
Victor Verchereau
Wayne Sherwood
Wayne Wood
Wendy Banker
Wexford County Farm Bureau
Wladyslaw Lorek
William McClelland
William Weitzel
Yvonne Werner
Zelma Pelfrey
Zoltan Cunningham
Minnesota
Albert Bodenhamer
Diane Omberg
Gary Welharticky
Jeffrey Paulson
Kathryn Beatty
Kyle Randklev
Minnesota Farm Bureau Foundation
Mysty Shamp
Nicolette Rindahl
Rebecca Darling
Richard Bremer
Stephanie Bach
Missouri
Dennis Martin
Donald Woods
Gene Painter
Hiland Dairy Foods Co.
Kathleen Palermo
Mulford Farms Inc.
St. Louis County Farm Bureau
Mississippi
A.C. Atkison Jr.
Al Cummins
Anthony Christian
B.B. Hemphill
Benjie Carter
Bill Hite
Billy Hopkins
Billy Rainey
Billy Ray Champion
Bob Atkins
Charles Noyes
Clay County Co-op
Dan Manning
Danny Wynne
David Dodd
David Hurt
David Kennedy
David Price
Don Cook
Don Greene
Donald Gray
Dwight Smith
Ed Rawls
Farm Bureau Insurance
Frank Blossman III
Garry Woodruff
George Dan Martin
George Moore
George Rooks
Hank Butler
Harry Laker
Henry Gilreath
Hilton Rainey
Hubert Hatfield Jr.
Hugh Rather
H.W. Harp
J. Prate Montgomery
Jerrell Dearman
Jerry Fulton
Jim Smith
Jimmy Calvary
John Burton
Johnny Johns
Johnny Mills
Jolayne Loden
Kathryn Arant
Kathy Davis
Kay Baker
Kay Elliott
Ken Rackley
Kevin Myers
K.L. Stephens
Lamar Makamson
Larry Whitaker
Larry Willbanks
Leslie Stephenson
Liberty Cash
Mackey Wade
Malcolm Wesson
Marion Breckenridge
Mark Mize
Mary Jean Hutchins
Matt Niemeyer
Michael Braddock
Michael Vick
Mike Bridwell
Mike Tingle
Moose Tolbert
Myron Tollison
Pat Caldwell
Prentiss County Farm Bureau
Randy Hayman
Randy Hynum
Rick Coulter
Rick Dowdy
Rick Newman
Rick Smith
Ricky Ferguson
Robert Hester
Robert Hughes
Robert Mitchener
Ron Holsonback
Russell Wilson
Rusty Calvert
Sam Loftin
Shelton Culpepper
Sidney Parker
Simpson County Farm Bureau
Sondra Blackburn
Teddy Bilbo
Thomas Allen
Tim Haire
Tommy Scott
Wade Hailey
Walthall County Farm Bureau
Wayne Perkins
Wayne Stanley
Wayne Thaxton
Webster County Agency
William Lawson
William Phillips
William Riley
Montana
Gregory Lackman
McCone County Farm Bureau
P. Golterman
Rosebud-Treasure County Farm
Bureau
North Carolina
Amy Shivar
Anthony Reese
Brunswick County Farm Bureau
Burke County Farm Bureau
Columbus County Farm Bureau
Durham County Farm Bureau
Dwight Williams
Edgecombe County Farm Bureau
Inc.
Granville County Farm Bureau
Happy Trails Cowboy Church
Harmon’s Dairy
Harold Robinson
James Mills
John Dellinger
Kenneth Powell
L.B. Whitfield
Lorenda Overman
Lowell Underwood
Lycurous Lowry
M. Scott Whitford
Mary Jernigan
Norris Clippinger
Patricia Cain
Robert Sessions
Robeson County Farm Bureau Inc.
Rockingham County Farm Bureau
Roger Williams
Rutherford County Farm Bureau
Inc.
We Sugg III
North Dakota
Barbara Holtgard
Don Nelson
Donnavon Moser
Elizabeth Mauch
Gail Scherweit
John Kollman
Jon Reinpold
Julie Mauch
Katie Schuler
Sara Bjerke
Stacy Flanery
Timothy Green
Travis Strobel
Nebraska
Amy Renz
Austin Searles
Cuming County Farm Bureau
Dotty Roseberry
Douglas Gibson
Gage County Farm Bureau
Helen Ohme
Howard County Farm Bureau
Immanuel Lutheran Church—
James Jackson
Kay Schroder
Lincoln County Farm Bureau
Logan County Farm Bureau
Lori Potter
Nebraska Farm Bureau Services Inc.
Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation
Richard Neel
Roberts Dairy Co.
Sarpy County Farm Bureau
Sheridan County Farm Bureau
University of Nebraska at Kearney
Wayne County Farm Bureau
New Hampshire
Gordon Bemis
Lutie Bradeen
New Hampshire Farm Bureau
New Jersey
Ann Marie Hagemann
Catherine Salzman
Duck Flats Farm & Thunderhoof
Stables
Henrietta Dreyer
Jack Rinehart
Jerome Frecon
Lawrence Hutchins
Linda Terranova
Mercer County Board of Agriculture
Middlesex County Board of
Agriculture
Monmouth County Board of
Agriculture
New Jersey Farm Bureau
Sebowisha Farms
New Mexico
Barbara Harris
Charlotte Mitchell
Dennis & Margene Harris
Midbar Ranch
Western Farm Bureau Loan Co. Inc.
Nevada
Julie Wolf
Lura Weaver
The Stodieck Farm
New York
Amy Barnewall
Chemung County Farm Bureau
Colleen Tweedie
Dueppengiesser Dairy Co.
Eileen Pelkofsky
George Rauf
Greene County Farm Bureau
John & Anne Lincoln
Koval Brothers Dairy LLC
Kristine Ooms
Leon Kraszewski Jr.
Lois Partin
Margery Secrest
Marien Klett
Michelle Gogel
New York Farm Bureau
Robert Delavergne
Saratoga County Farm Bureau Inc.
The Country Garden LLC
Washington County Farm Bureau
Ohio
Annie M Swarey
Anthony Arnold
Belmont County Farm Bureau
Butler County Farm Bureau
Federation
Craig Pohlman
Cuyahoga County Farm Bureau
Derek Willeke
Diana Chandler
Dianna Wetzel
Eileen Schuerman
Jane Peterson
John Parker
Judith Roush
Kevin Wayne Scarlett
L. Jeannine Hogue
Marrow County Antique Tractor
Marysue Willeke
Max McGowan
Michael Davis
Monroe County Farm Bureau
Noble County Farm Bureau
Ohio Farm Bureau Federation Inc.
Rachel Wentworth
Rebecca Moehl
Robert Peterson
Roger Schneidewind
Summit County Farm Bureau Inc.
Vera Hankey
Oklahoma
Beverly Delmedico
C.J. Schretes
Delores Vandeman
J.A. Degeare
Joseph Peterson
Margaret Peters White
Martin & Renee Smith
Mary Canfield
Oklahoma Farm Bureau
R.A. Tenney
Oregon
Barbara Hawes
Dave Barrows & Associates
Deschutes County Farm Bureau
Ernest Rieben
Klamath County Farm Bureau
Oregon Farm Bureau Federation
Pennsylvania
Adelaide Kretzing
Barbara Lowe
Boyd Wolff
Bucks County Farm Bureau
Cambria County Farm Bureau
Chester Delaware County Farm
Bureau
Clarion County Holstein Club
Dennis Martin
Diana Rarig
Fayette County Farm Bureau
Gary O’Malia
Lisa Semmel
Naomi Hoopes
Northampton County 4-H Dairy
Club
Owen Heiss
Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture
Paul & Nancy Semmel
Phillips Mushroom Farms LP
Robert Pardoe Jr.
RPA-NLC
Shirley Novajosky
Somerset County Farm Bureau
Susquehanna County Farm Bureau
Thomas Earp
Valley View Poultry Farm
Virginia Hess
Wilson Smeltz Jr.
York County Junior Livestock Clubs
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Farm Bureau
Federation Inc.
South Carolina
Aiken County Farm Bureau
Allendale County Farm Bureau
Alva McCaskill Jr.
Amanda Nichols
Anderson County Farm Bureau
Bamberg County Farm Bureau
Barnwell County Farm Bureau
Betty Jackson
Calhoun County Farm Bureau
Clara Humphrey
Charles Nichols
Chastity Dantzler
Chesterfield County Farm Bureau
Darlington County Farm Bureau
David Newton
David Winkles Jr.
Frances & Phillip Price
Frances Lynch
Gene Lawhon
George Nichols
Georgetown County Farm Bureau
Greenwood County Farm Bureau
H.N. Dantzler
Hampton County Farm Bureau
Hazel Z. Mills
J. Cutter Montgomery
Jasper County Farm Bureau
Jeanne Ulmer
Jennifer Vaughn
John Fallaw Jr.
John Folk Jr.
Karen Rudd
Katherine Brown
Lancaster County Farm Bureau
Lexington County Farm Bureau
Lisa Lee
Liyueh Lin Huang
Maria Samot
Marion County Farm Bureau
Mary Margaret Bowman
Methel Taylor
Newberry County Farm Bureau
Patricia Bowersox
Patricia Jackson
Phillip E. Love Jr.
R. Lawrence Smith
Raymond Babb
Richland County Farm Bureau
S. Michael Stewart
Southern Farm Bureau Casualty
Insurance Co.
South Carolina Farm Bureau
Federation Inc.
T.A. Warren Jr.
Union County Farm Bureau
South Dakota
Art Bergeson Jr.
David Deberg
Joyce & John Haak
South Dakota Farm Bureau
Federation
Tennessee
Alan Potts
Alene Smith
Arlene Jones
Bedford City Farm Bureau Women
Bedford County Farm Bureau
Carroll County Farm Bureau
Charles Curtis
Charles Kemp
Grainger County Farm Bureau
Henry County Farm Bureau
James Jessee
Lynn McMahan Hauling
Norman Layne
Robert Beets Jr.
Saint Clair Ruritan Club
Sheila Earhart
Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation
Triple L Ranch
William Parker
Texas
3-D Farms—Stefano’s
Alan R. Zeman
Albert Zimmerer
Alfon Jansa
B.J. Huffman
Bill Wooten
Blair Russell
Bob Stallman
Bobby Cole
C. Fred Richter
Carl Enderby
Carol Pilgrim
Charlene Nash
China Spring High School
Colorado County Farm Bureau
Comal County Farm Bureau
Cooke County Farm Bureau
Dallas County Farm Bureau
Dawson County Farm Bureau
Dewitt County Farm Bureau
Don Walden
Doris Hoelscher
Dorothy Carabetta
Easton Wall
Edward Pick
Edwin Knight
Elmo Dahl
Erna Schneider
Fort Bend County Farm Bureau
Frank Royal
Gary McGehhe
Gilbert Laubach
Guadalupe County Farm Bureau
Helene Boehme
Helga Harper
Hemphill County Farm Bureau
Hill County Farm Bureau
Horace Reece
Hubert L. Berry
Ida Perrigo
James Maxton
Jana Middleton
Joe Connell Jr.
Joe Holmes
Joe Kapavik
John Lake
Joycelyn Calame
Katharine Thompson
Keith Colteryahn
Kenneth & Binnie Dierschke
Kenneth Sicking
Lana Robinson
Lavaca County Farm Bureau
Leslie Keese
Lillian Galbreath
Limestone County Farm Bureau
Main Street Pharmacy & Gifts
Malone Community Farm Bureau
Margaret Foster
Margaret Galbreath
Mark Durst
Marvin Schulz
Melinda E. Walter
Melissa Becker
Michelle Moore
Milton Peterson
Nathan Haile
Nelda Vaughn
Newcastle Church of Christ
Parmer County Farm Bureau
Pat Bazzell
Philip Dreiseszun
Rex Kesler
RGK Farms Inc.
Robert Harle
Rockin C Ranch
Rudy Schumacher
Sabine County Farm Bureau
San Patricio County Farm Bureau
Sandra Hoyland
Sara Farms
Sharon Tomas
Shirley Hannes
Sidney Clary
Starr County Farm Bureau
Synergistic International LLC
Terry County Farm Bureau
Texas Farm Bureau
Page 13
Travis County Farm Bureau
W.C. Pallmeyer
W.P. Stromberg
Wanda Magee
Weldon Mika
Weston Brandes
Wharton County Farm Bureau
Wilbarger County Farm Bureau
William Arnold
Wilson County Farm Bureau
W.J. Poynor Sr.
Wynona Riddles
Utah
Karla Lister
Lillian Jo Schmidt
Virginia
Accomack County Farm Bureau
Albemarle County Farm Bureau
Augusta County Farm Bureau Inc.
Barbara Whitehead
Chantilly Turf Farms
Charles Koogler
Charles City, James City, New Kent
County Farm Bureau
Christina Lilja
Cyndie Sirekis
Floyd County Farm Bureau
Fluvanna County Farm Bureau
Women’s Committee
Franklin County Farm Bureau
Grayson County Farm Bureau
Federation
Halifax County Farm Bureau
Hallie Lillard
Hanover County Farm Bureau
Hollis M. Estes Jr.
James Hawthorne
Joseph Stepp
Julie Anna Potts
Kelli Ludlum
Madison County Farm Bureau
Marsha Regeling
Martha L. White
Mary Aylor
Nancy Kegley
Patricia Sanders
Patrick County Farm Bureau
Paul Schlegel
Pittsylvania Farm Bureau Federation
Powhatan County Farm Bureau Inc.
Pulaski County Farm Bureau
Roanoke County Farm Bureau
Surry County Farm Bureau
Tazewell County Farm Bureau
Travis Williams
Treazure Johnson
Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual
Insurance
Virginia Farm Bureau Federation
Women’s Committee
Wallace Carter
Westmoreland County Farm Bureau
Vermont
William Wicks
Washington
Barbara Carlton
Benton County Farm Bureau
Clark Cowlitz Farm Bureau
Daedal Ventures LLC
Er Stuhlmiller
King-Pierce Farm Bureau
Larry Jensen
Lewis County Farm Bureau
Pamela Hesse
Richard Johnson
Snohomish County Farm Bureau
Southwest Washington County Farm
Bureau
Stephanie Coon
Thomas Wynne
Toni Drouhard
Whatcom County Farm Bureau
Yakima County Farm Bureau
Washington, D.C.
American Farm Bureau Federation
Wisconsin
Association of Equipment
Manufacturers
Bill Petersen
Carla Gunst
Carmen Good
Fond Du Lac County Farm Bureau
Grant County Farm Bureau
Green County Farm Bureau
Hard Knox Farm
Howard Poulson
James Holte
Janice Anderson
Kuhn Knight Inc.
Lakeshore Federated Dairy Co-op
Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation
West Virginia
Uinta County Farm Bureau
Wyoming
Jean Harshbarger
Page 14
Farmers Display Innovations in Showcase
Farmers are notorious tinkerers, and they
sometimes come up with great inventions for
getting jobs done quicker, safer, easier and
cheaper. The following Farm Bureau members
will show off their ideas in the Showcase, and
the best idea will be announced during the
Farmer Idea Exchange Awards at the Flapjack
Fundraiser, 7 a.m., Monday, Jan. 9, in Ryman
Exhibit Hall C1.
Automatic Cattle Fly Sprayer, Roger
Williamson – This sprayer-feeder mechanism
allows cattle to operate a three-way switch by
raising the trough lid when eating minerals.
This lid switch action, in conjunction with a
solid-state programmable time delay relay and
a power relay, energizes a 12 volt DC solenoid
valve after the cow release the trough lid and
applies a four-second spray application at the
rear of the cow as she exits the structure. The
system saves the cost of installing fly tags,
time and stress by not having to corral cattle to
spray them in the hot fly season.
Baler-Mate, Dale Alvarez – The BalerMate saves time and money by eliminating the
need for a second person, a second tractor and
another hay rake when baling hay. Three rake
wheels on each side of the baler are set in
place by stabilizer arms attached to the baler.
The rake can be raised with hydraulic cylinders and moved to the sides of the baler for
transport. The invention also saves fuel by
eliminating trips across the field and from
field to field.
Bin Roof Guard Rail, Greg Ervin –
This guard rail for a grain bin roof provides
protection against accidentally falling off the
grain bin by providing a hand rail above the
roof. The guard rail is welded into place. It
provides a measure of safety protection that is
not provided by bin manufacturers. Falling off
a bin can cause serious—and costly—injuries.
Cattle Creep Feeder, Joe Paul
Mattingly – With today’s cattle prices, creep
feeding calves is very cost-effective, but commercial creep feeding equipment is expensive.
(Creep feeding provides calves with access to
supplemental nutrients while still nursing. An
opening big enough for calves but too large
for grown cattle ensures the calves get the
additional nutrients, and the calves grow to
market weight faster.) Most farms have access
to gravity bed wagons. By attaching two gates
and a sorting panel to the wagon, and blocking
the grain chute on the wagon, calves have
access to the feed. The cost of converting the
wagon is about $400, compared to $2,500 for
a commercial creep feeder.
EZ-Open Gooseneck Cover, Duane
Gress – The EZ-Open works by mounting the
hitch cover to a five-eighths-inch rod that exits
the left side of the truck bed. A bolt head
welded to the rod allows for opening and closing the cover to hook up a gooseneck trailer
without having to enter the truck bed. It also
for a safety chain for the cover and eliminates
the need for a hole in the cover to “get a hold”
to open it. This makes the truck bed a complete flat surface that small objects cannot fall
into.
From Milk to Yogurt Cheese, Barbara
Crain – Yogurt cheese is made by draining the
whey off of yogurt. It can be substituted for
cream cheese. It has less fat and fewer calories
than cream cheese or sour cream. The product
can be flavored and sold in supermarkets.
Selling milk as yogurt cheese rather than a raw
commodity has the potential for greatly
increasing farm income.
Mobile Drop Light, Kevin Buckstead –
This modified drop light, or trouble light,
attaches to the posts of a vehicle battery, providing an inexpensive portable light source in
emergencies. It’s inexpensive and weighs less
than ready-made emergency light sources. It
LeRoy Stotts of Seiling, Okla., was the grand prize winner in last year's Farmer Idea Exchange.
Visit the Farmer Idea booths in the Showcase to see this year's contestants and their money- and
time-saving inventions.
provides safety, economy and convenience.
Mulching Vine Crops with Cover Crop
Wheat, Scott Travis – Cover crop wheat is
mowed to provide mulch for ornamental crops
sold for fall decorating, such as gourds and
pumpkins. In addition to providing weed control and cutting down on dirt that has to be
washed off the produce, the process controls
erosion in the fields by providing strips of
sprouted wheat.
Open Gate Holder, Walter Bueker –
The Open Gate Holder is simply a rod that is
stored on the gate tubing. Dropped in the
ground after the gate is opened, it will hold the
gate open until removed and replaced on the
gate tubing.
Saddle Up, Carl Seeliger – Saddle Up is
an articulating saddle rack designed for a standard rear tack compartment of a horse trailer.
Saddle Up will lift the saddles up and out,
making them easy to access. It can be wired
either directly to the trailer wiring or to a separate battery. It’s a time and labor saving
device, it promotes safety and it’s easy for all
to use.
Scrape Up Savings, Robert Barnett –
These two-piece, easy to install scrapers are
designed to replace the John Deere scrapers
for double-disc drills. They cost half as much
as the original scrapers and will not wear out
because of their simple design. Not only do
they cost less in the beginning, but they also
save money over the long term. Because the
scrapers are placed one-sixteenth of an inch
away from the discs, the discs do not receive
added wear by rubbing or stopping them,
which reaps additional savings.
Shover, Clint Dearden – The Shover is
two tools in one: a shovel at one end with a
detachable hammer on the opposite end. The
Shover saves time and frustration when building and repairing fences and other farm tasks
by combining a shovel and a hammer in one
easy-to-carry tool.
Skid Loader Hitch, Lary Bordeaux –
The Skid Loader Hitch is an attachment for
the skid loader that makes it quick and easy to
park equipment in tight spaces. It works by
hooking up to the equipment in the same way
as a tractor, but the Skid Loader Hitch allows
you to look toward the equipment. It has a
zero degree turning radius, which allows for
accurate and easy turning.
Speedy Change Farm & Market Sign,
George Hubka – The “Speedy Change” sign
provides for convenient and fast changing panels listing the various products sold at a farm
or farmer’s market.
T-Post Driver, John Gipson – The TPost Driver is a metal tubing with a metal
plate attached. It is telescoped over a T-post,
and using the front-end loader of a tractor it is
used to drive the T-post into the ground. Being
on level ground, all of the T-posts will be the
same height. The T-Post Driver makes fence
building faster and easier.
TENNESSEE
agricultural force to be reckoned with.
Tennessee has 13
million acres of forests and is the national
leader in production of hardwood flooring.
The state is one of the country’s leading
exporters of hardwood lumber.
Tennessee farmers were among the first
to embrace no-till farming, a practice in which
soil is not plowed before seed is planted.
Then again, the state has a long history in
strengthening farm production. The
University of Tennessee was the first southern
land grant institution. It was designated in
1867 to promote agricultural research and education.
With 608,251 Tennessee Farm Bureau
members and the largest 4-H Club membership in the nation, the future of agriculture in
Tennessee looks bright.
Members Gather
famous for his 1975 hit song “Wildfire.” Today,
he is a rancher and a Texas Farm Bureau member.
He is also known and appreciated for writing and performing the theme song for the
America’s Heartland program, now airing on
public television. The show, sponsored by AFBF
and Monsanto, along with several other agricultural organizations, celebrates agriculture and
rural America. It’s rumored that Murphey could
show up with a few special guests to perform
with him.
The Ice Cream Social is sponsored by the
Dairy Checkoff, the Beef Checkoff and Purity
Dairies. The concert is sponsored by Supporters
of America’s Heartland, including AFBF and
Monsanto.
One of country music’s newest sensations,
Michael Peterson, will perform Monday, Jan. 9,
during the American Farm Bureau Foundation
for Agriculture’s Flapjack Fundraiser, which
begins at 7 a.m. Peterson is best known for his
1997 hit single “Drink, Swear, Steal and Lie,”
which isn’t as rowdy as the title implies.
Peterson was named Top New Artist of 1997 by
Billboard and Radio & Records, two publications that cover the music industry. His hit
“From Here to Eternity” earned him his first No.
1 spot on the Billboard charts.
Peterson’s performance is sponsored by
New Holland. Tickets for the Flapjack
Fundraiser are $30 and can be purchased at the
door. All proceeds will benefit the “Great
American Farm” exhibit at Innoventions at
Epcot, at Walt Disney World.
Also new this year is an expansion of the
Cyber Café, where convention attendees can
check their e-mail and surf the Web. In addition
to a smaller version of the Cyber Café in its traditional location in the Showcase, a larger version of it will be open near the registration desk.
This change was made so that the Cyber Café
would be available at times when the Showcase
is closed.
Saturday-Sunday
Events
Convention registration begins at 7 a.m. on
Saturday, Jan. 7, in the Delta Ballroom PreFunction area. The registration desk will be
open until 6 p.m. that day, and reopen at 7 a.m.
on Sunday. It will open once more at 7:30 a.m.
on Monday.
The first official event on Sunday will be
the Morning Devotions service, at 8:30 a.m. in
the Delta Ballroom. Next, the Showcase, Farm
Bureau’s own version of a trade show, begins at
9:30 a.m. in Ryman Exhibit Hall C2. See page 5
Batter Up for AFB
Foundation Silent Auction
If you like to scour auctions and estate
sales for treasures you didn’t know you needed, then you will really enjoy the American
Farm Bureau Foundation Silent Auction. And
the foundation will appreciate the funds raised
through the auction. All proceeds will go
toward the foundation’s agricultural education
work.
This year’s Silent Auction will feature
two especially exciting items: a baseball bat
signed by Cal Ripken Jr., and a guitar signed
by country music artist Sammy Kershaw.
Ripken retired from the Baltimore Orioles
after setting a new record for the number of
consecutive games played. He will speak at
Monday’s General Session.
Kershaw has had several country hits,
including “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful”
and “I Can’t Reach Her Anymore.” He will
perform at the Awards and Entertainment
Program at 7:30 Monday night.
Additional items that could get a lot of
interest are a leaf blower, chainsaw, lawn trimmer and Yard Boss cultivator, from Stihl, a
model of a John Deere tractor, and a football
signed by several NFL players.
The auction will be open in the
Showcase, in Ryman Exhibit Hall C2, from
9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 8, and
from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 9.
Members Gather
for a complete list of Showcase exhibitors.
The Showcase will remain open until 3
p.m. on Sunday, and reopen from 9 a.m. until 3
p.m. Monday, Jan. 9.
Registration for the Young Farmer and
Rancher (YFR) competitions will begin at 7
a.m. in the Bayou E Foyer. The Discussion Meet
will take place in Bayou A-E and Canal A-E,
with round 1 beginning at 9:30 a.m., round 2
beginning at 11:30 a.m. and the Sweet 16 round
beginning at 1:30 p.m.
The Farm Bureau Women’s Committee
activities will begin with the regional caucuses
at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, in Governors’
Ballroom A, C, D and E. Next will be the
Women’s Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. and Business
Session at 12:30 p.m. in Presidential Ballroom
A&B.
As usual, the convention offers a wide
variety of conferences and workshops on specific agricultural issues as well as general motivational topics. See page 3 for details about the
planned conferences.
Other Meeting
Highlights
The Sunday afternoon General Session, at
3 p.m., will feature AFBF President Bob
Stallman’s annual address to Farm Bureau members. Stallman is expected to expound on this
year’s convention theme, “Country Roads &
Global Highways,” provide a general wrap-up
of Farm Bureau’s achievements for 2005 and
talk about the organization’s goals for 2006.
Also, the recipients of the Distinguished
Service Award (DSA) will be announced during
the General Session. The DSA is the highest
honor that AFBF bestows on an individual. The
YFR contest finalists also will be announced in
the General Session.
A speech by baseball great Cal Ripken Jr.,
will be the highlight of the Monday afternoon
General Session, also at 3 p.m. Ripken is known
as baseball’s Iron Man for setting a new record
of 2,632 consecutive games played. He still
holds the record.
Monday’s events also include the State
Women’s Committee Chair Luncheon, at 11:30
a.m. in the Magnolia Ballroom, and the County
Presidents’ Lunch at 12 noon in Ryman Exhibit
Hall C1. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns
will address more than 1,000 county Farm
Bureau presidents at their luncheon.
The annual American Farm Bureau
Foundation for Agriculture Silent Auction will
again this year take place in the Showcase area,
Ryman Exhibit Hall C2. See page 14 for more
information about exciting items in the Silent
Auction.
The most important thing to happen
Tuesday morning will be, of course, the beginning of the annual meeting of AFBF voting delegates, beginning at 8 a.m. in the Presidential
Ballroom. As a result of Farm Bureau’s membership growth in 2005, there will be 440 delegates this year, an increase of seven over last
year’s total. The delegates will debate changes
to AFBF policy and adopt policy positions for
2006. They will also hold elections for AFBF
president and vice-president.
Regional caucuses will begin at 5 p.m. in
the Bayou A-D and Canal A-D rooms.
The convention will end Wednesday, Jan.
11, with the conclusion of the voting delegate
session, followed by a meeting of the AFBF
board of directors.
Page 15
Nashville offers great restaurants, activities
There’s music and much, much more in Music
City, USA. Nashville’s restaurants offer such a
variety of cuisine, from American to Caribbean
to Swiss, you could consider yourself a globetrotter after sampling the fare. In addition, the
area’s historical and political roots run deep,
from former President Andrew Jackson (18291837) to current Senate Majority Leader Bill
Frist (R-Tenn.), who will be speaking at the convention on Sunday, Jan. 8.
MEXICAN:
All addresses are in Nashville
SEAFOOD:
* AFBF staff pick
PLACES TO EAT
La Paz Restaurante Cantina
3808 Cleghorn Ave.
Ph.: (615) 383-5200
Green Hills and South Nashville
La Hacienda Taqueria
2615 Nolensville Rd.
Ph.: (615) 256-6142
Atlantis
1911 Broadway
Ph.: (615) 327-8001
Music Row and the West End
AMERICAN:
STEAKHOUSES:
Cock of the Walk*
2624 Music Valley Dr.
Ph.: (615) 889-1930
According to Marsha Purcell, managing
director, AFB Foundation for Agriculture
and program development, Cock of the Walk
offers great southern cooking, including
fried catfish and okra.
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse
2525 West End Ave.
Ph.: (615) 342-0131
F. Scott’s Restaurant and Jazz Bar
2210 Crestmoor Rd.
Ph.: (615) 269-5861
Harper’s
2610 Jefferson St.
Ph.: (615) 329-1909
Martha’s at the Plantation
5025 Harding Pke.
Ph.: (615) 353-2828
Belle Meade and environs
Monell’s
1235 6th Ave. North
Ph.: (615) 248-4747
Downtown and the District
Sunset Grill
2001 Belcourt Ave.
Ph.: (615) 386-3663
CARIBBEAN:
Calypso
2424 Elliston Pl.
Ph.: (615) 321-3878
Jimmy Kelly’s
217 Louise Ave.
Ph.: (615) 329-4349
Stock-Yard Restaurant
901 2nd Ave. N
Ph.: (615) 255-6464
JAPANESE/SUSHI:
Goten
1719 West End Ave.
Ph.: (615) 321-4537
Benkay Japanese Restaurant
40 White Bridge Rd.
Ph.: (615) 356-6600
Belle Meade and environs
PLACES TO GO
Belle Meade Plantation
5025 Harding Rd.
Ph.: (615) 356-0501
Visit Web Site:
www.bellemeadeplantation.com
Belmont Mansion
Belmont University campus
1900 Belmont Blvd.
Ph.: (615) 460-5459
Visit Web Site: www.belmontmansion.com
Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and
Museum of Art
1200 Forrest Park Dr.
Ph.: (615) 356-8000
Visit Web Site: www.cheekwood.org
Country Music Hall of Fame
222 Fifth Ave. South
Ph.: (615) 416-2001
Visit Web Site:
www.countrymusichalloffame.com
Grand Ole Opry
2802 Opryland Dr.
Ph.: 615-871-OPRY
Visit Web Site: www.opry.com
The Hermitage-Home of President Andrew
Jackson
4580 Rachel’s Ln.
Ph.: (615) 889-2941
Visit Web Site: www.thehermitage.com
Opry Mills Mall*
433 Opry Mills Dr.
Ph.: (615) 514-1000
Visit Web Site: www.oprymills.com
Susan Cain, AFBF program assistant, said the
mall, located within walking distance of the
Opryland Convention Center, has a variety of
stores that you can’t find elsewhere.
The Parthenon
Centennial Park
Ph.: (615) 862-8431
Ryman Auditorium
116 Fifth Ave. North
Ph.: (615) 889-3060
Visit Web Site: http://www.ryman.com/
Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge
422 Broadway
Ph.: (615) 726-0463
Visit Web Site: www.tootsies.net
WILDHORSE SALOON*
120 2nd Ave. North
(615) 902-8200
Visit Web Site: www.wildhorsesaloon.com
According to Mike Stanton, AFB Inc., membership development and coordinator, Wildhorse
has it all—dancing, food, fun and high energy!
ECLECTIC:
Bound’ry*
911 20th Ave. South
Ph.: (615) 321-3043
Cody Lyon, AFBF director of grassroots and
policy advocacy, said Bound’ry is unique and
exciting, with a wide variety of food choices.
Mirror
2317 12th Ave. S
Ph.: (615) 383-8330
Zola
3001 West End Ave.
Ph.: (615) 320-7778
SWISS/GERMAN/AUSTRIAN:
Gerst Haus
301 Woodland St
Ph.: (615) 244-8886
The famous Wildhorse Saloon is located in a three-level historic warehouse in downtown Music
City, USA, also known as Nashville. The saloon's 66,000 square-foot space hosts live music and
dancing. Food offerings include barbecue and fried pickles.
AN EXTRA 500 FOR FARM BUREAU MEMBERS
FITS NICELY IN THE WORLD’S BIGGEST CAB.
$
®
RAM MEGA CAB™ > It’s that big > More rear-seat leg room than anything in its class* > Rear seats that actually recline > Largest rear-door opening angle
in its class* > Powerful Cummins® Turbo Diesel engine or 5.7L HEMI® V8 available > PLUS Farm Bureau members get an extra $500 cash allowance† >
Contact your state Farm Bureau for details > For more info, visit dodge.com/mega_cab or call 800-4ADODGE.
*Based on full-size, crew cab pickups. †Must be a Farm Bureau member for at least 30 days. Farm Bureau is federally registered collective membership and a registered service mark of the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Optional Mopar running boards shown.
Cummins is a registered trademark of Cummins, Inc.
Dodge and HEMI are registered trademarks of DaimlerChrysler Corporation.

Issue 1-2.qxd - American Farm Bureau

Transcription

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