Legislative issues, USDA’s final traceability rule, agriculture transportation and agriculture livestock theft are a few of the topics that will be presented at the 2013 Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation Legislative Meeting.  United States Senator Mike Enzi will address members on Monday afternoon.  United States Representative Cynthia Lummis, Wyoming Governor Matt Mead and United States Senator John Barrasso will speak to the group on Feb. 19. 

              The meeting will be Feb. 18-19 at the Plains Hotel in Cheyenne.  Held annually to coincide with the legislative session, the meeting provides Farm Bureau members the opportunity to meet with their legislators one-on-one and receive updates on current issues.   Click here for final agenda.

             The meeting begins at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 18 with registration.  If their schedules permit, House Agriculture Committee Chair Representative Mark Semlek and Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Senator Gerry Geis, will address the members during the noon luncheon. 

            United States Senator Mike Enzi will speak at 1:30 p.m. Monday afternoon.

            At 2 p.m. Keith Kennedy with Custom Ag Solutions will present “Discover Your Personal Ag Risk Profile.”

            Monday’s afternoon activities also include legislative briefings from WyFB lobbyists and membership awards. 

            WyFB Young Farmer & Rancher State Vice Chair Heather Hamilton will lead a presentation on “Getting Agriculture’s Story to the Public without Using the Internet” at 4:15 p.m.

           Monday evening at 6:30 p.m. provides the one-on-one visits with the legislators during the “Legislative Banquet” that includes a prime-rib dinner.

            Tuesday’s agenda includes a speaker’s forum. Beginning at 8 a.m., Wyoming State Veterinarian Jim Logan will discuss “Final USDA Animal Disease Traceability Rule-How it Affects Wyoming’s Meat Animal Producers.”

            At 9 a.m., a panel discussion will look at “Federal Motor Carrier Regulations—What Agriculture Producers Need to Know About Ag Transportation.”  The transportation panelists will be personnel from the Wyoming Department of Transportation.

            Following a break, Wyoming Governor Matt Mead will address the group at 10:15 a.m.   

           “Working with your Local Law Enforcement on Ag Livestock Theft” will be discussed by a representative from the Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police at 10:45 a.m.

            The meeting will conclude with an 11:45 a.m. luncheon featuring United States Representative Cynthia Lummis.

            United States Senator Barrasso has also been invited.  Click here for the full agenda.

Meeting registration

         Visit www.wyfb.org for on-line meeting registration and agenda or you may call 307.721.7723  or e-mail dgiroux@wyfb.org to pre-register by Feb. 11. 

Hotel information

           Room reservations may be made by calling the Plains Hotel at 307.638.3311 by Feb. 11.  Please make reservations under the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation block code.  The Plains Hotel has a free valet parking service and parking garage for all guests. 

The Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation is the state’s largest general agriculture organization.  The primary goals of the organization are to protect private property rights and help members achieve an equitable return on their investment.  Visit www.wyfb.org.

-FB END—

Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation

2013 Legislative Meeting

Tentative AGENDA

Updates available at wyfb.org

 February 18 - 19, 2013

Plains Hotel, Cheyenne, Wyoming

Monday, February 18

8:00 a.m.   WyFB Board of Director’s Meeting

11:00 a.m.           Registration

Noon         Luncheon Sponsored by Mountain West Farm Bureau Insurance

Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation

Heather Hamilton, WyFB YF&R Vice-Chair

If their schedules permit, Senator Gerry Geis, Senate Ag Committee Chair & Representative Mark Semlek, House Ag Committee Chair will update the membership on the activities of the Senate and House Agriculture Committees

Introduction by Perry Livingston, WyFB President

1:30 p.m.   Speaker - United States Senator Michael Enzi        

Introduction:  WyFB President Perry Livingston

 2:00 p.m.   Speaker - Keith Kennedy - Custom Ag Solutions

“Discover Your Personal Ag Risk Profile”

 3:00 p.m.   President’s Comments:  Perry Livingston, WyFB President

 3:10 p.m.   Legislative Issues - Ken Hamilton & Brett Moline, WyFB Lobbying Team

 4:00 p.m.   Membership Awards - Tim Pexton, WyFB State Membership Chair

 4:15 p.m.   Speaker - Heather Hamilton - WyFB YF&R Committee Vice-Chair

“Getting Agriculture’s Story to the Public without Using the Internet”

 4:15 p.m.   Sheep and Sugar Committee

 6:30 p.m.   Legislative Banquet - Cash Bar opens at 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, February 19

Speaker’s Forum

Master of Ceremonies - Perry Livingston, WyFB President

 8:00 a.m.   Speaker - Dr. Jim Logan - Wyoming State Veterinarian

“Final USDA Animal Disease Traceability Rule - How it Affects Wyoming’s Meat Animal Producers”

 9:00 a.m.   Transportation Panel - Wyoming Department of Transportation

“Federal Motor Carrier Regulations - What Agriculture Producers Need to Know About Ag Transportation”

 10:00 a.m. Break

 10:15 a.m. Speaker – Wyoming Governor Matt Mead

 10:45 a.m. Speaker - Representative from the Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police

“Working with your Local Law Enforcement on Ag Livestock Theft”

 11:45 a.m. Luncheon

Speaker - United States Representative Cynthia Lummis

Introduction:  WyFB President Perry Livingston

*Meeting Adjourned*