The Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation was recognized for numerous outstanding accomplishments during the opening session of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 92nd Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. The theme this year at the annual meeting was “Producing Results” and the nation’s largest state Farm Bureau organization definitely did that as they received two AFBF President’s awards in the areas of Agriculture Education and Promotion and Public Relations and Information. Tennessee once again earned Awards of Excellence in all five areas: Agriculture Education and Promotion, Leadership Development, Member Services, Policy Implementation and Public Relations and Information. The American Farm Bureau celebrated a membership milestone during the meeting, as the organization marked 50 consecutive years of membership growth. Farm Bureau membership at the national level stands at 6,279,813 member families. Tennessee.
In his annual keynote address during the opening session on Sunday, American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman relayed a new-found attitude of unity and assertiveness throughout agriculture, and said farmers and ranchers are using new tools to share their personal stories like never before.”Our goal is to work together to increase consumer knowledge and restore trust in our nation’s food production system,” Stallman said. “While we know we are committed to producing safe and nutritious food, to protecting and enhancing the environment and humanely caring for our animals, the public ““ our neighbors ““ still want to be convinced,” Stallman said. “Improving consumer trust is job one.”
While farmers and ranchers pursue this aggressive new mission, Farm Bureau will continue to fight on their behalf. Stallman outlined organizational efforts to protect America’s farmers and ranchers from regulatory challenges that threaten to “downsize American agriculture, mothball productivity and outsource our farms.”
Attending the four-day event were Tennessee Farm Bureau delegates from across the state. While in Atlanta they were involved in sessions dealing with their agricultural industry, a trade show with the latest agricultural innovations, along with a meeting of the Farm Bureau Women’s organizations from across the nation.
Tennessee’s Outstanding Young Farmer winner Brian Flowers of Giles County was announced as a national runner up in the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award contest. The Achievement Award recognizes young farmers and ranchers who have excelled in their farming or ranching operations and exhibited superior leadership abilities. Participants are evaluated on a combination of their agricultural operation’s growth and financial progress, Farm Bureau leadership and leadership outside of Farm Bureau.
Ben Moore from Weakley County competed in the national Discussion Meet competition and Hardin County’s Shawn and Vanessa Duren were announced as national runners-up in the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture contest for young agricultural professionals who work off the farm. Announcement of these awards was made during the Monday afternoon general session, which featured a keynote address from Discovery Channel’s hit show Dirty Jobs host Mike Rowe.
Delegates will return home Wednesday following the annual meeting of the voting delegates, who will discuss and set policy for the national farm organization.
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