Legislative issues, health insurance, telecommunications, Wyoming water strategy and estate planning are a few of the topics that will be presented at the 2014 Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation Legislative Meeting. 

The meeting will be Feb. 27-28 at the Holiday Inn 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.

The meeting begins at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 27 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.   Schedule pending, Senator Eli Bebout will then provide an overview of interim activities and recommendations of the Select Federal Natural Resource Management Committee.

At 1:30 p.m. Keith Kennedy with Custom Ag Solutions will present “Protecting Your Profits – Strategies for Navigating Turbulent Markets.”

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

Thursday evening at 6:30 p.m. provides the one-on-one visits with the legislators during a joint “Legislative Reception” sponsored by the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation and the Wyoming Rural Electric Association.

Friday’s agenda includes a speaker’s forum.  Beginning at 8 a.m., Wyoming Department of Insurance Commissioner Tom Hirsig will discuss “Options for Health Insurance in Wyoming’s Agriculture Industry.”

At 9 a.m., a panel discussion will look at “The Wyoming Telecommunications Act—What do we need for the future?”  The panelists include:  Alan Minier, Public Service Commission; Kristin Lee, Century Link; and Jason Hendricks, Range Telcos and Wyoming Telecommunications Association president.

Following a break, the next speaker begins at 10:15 a.m.  Nephi Cole, Policy Advisor to Governor Matt Mead will make a presentation on “Wyoming Water Strategy – What we heard in the listening sessions.”

“Estate planning with your Farm Bureau agent” will be presented by Jason Bell, Farm Bureau Financial Services (Cheyenne office) at 11:15 a.m.

The meeting will conclude with a noon luncheon.  View 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. 17. 

Hotel information

Room reservations may be made by calling the Holiday Inn at 307-635-1282 or 307-640-2481.  Please make reservations under the WFB block code by Feb. 14.   

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.

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Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation

2014 Legislative Meeting

Agenda

(Agenda updates available at wyfb.org)

 February 27 - 28, 2014

Holiday Inn, Cheyenne, Wyoming

Thursday, February 27

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

11:00 a.m.           Registration

Noon                    Luncheon

Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

Raenell Taylor, WyFB YF&R State Chair

If their schedules permit, Senator Gerry Geis, Senate Ag Committee Chair, Representative Mark Semlek, House Ag Committee Chair, and Senator Eli Bebout, Co-chair of the Select Federal Natural Resource Management Committee will address the members during the noon luncheon.

 1:30 p.m.   Speaker - Keith Kennedy - Custom Ag Solutions

“Protecting Your Profits – Strategies for Navigating Turbulent Markets”

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.   Free time

4:45 p.m.   Sheep Committee

6:30 p.m.   Legislative Reception - Sponsored by Wyoming Farm Bureau

Federation & Wyoming Rural Electric Association

Friday, February 28

2014 Speaker’s Forum

8:00 a.m.   Speaker – Tom Hirsig – Commissioner, Wyoming Department of

                                                                   Insurance

“Options for Health Insurance in Wyoming’s Agriculture Industry”

9:00 a.m.   Telecommunications Panel

                   Alan Minier - Public Service Commission

                   Kristin Lee - Regulatory/Legislative Affairs Director, Century Link

          Jason Hendricks – Government Affairs Director, Range Telcos &

Wyoming Telecommunications Association President

“The Wyoming Telecommunications Act - What do we Need for the Future?”

10:00 a.m. Break

10:15 a.m. Speaker - Nephi Cole, Policy Advisor to Governor Matt Mead

“Wyoming Water Strategy – What we heard in the Listening Sessions”

11:15 a.m. Speaker - Jason Bell – Farm Bureau Financial Services, Cheyenne, WY

“Estate Planning with your Farm Bureau Agent”

Noon                    Luncheon 

*Meeting Adjourned*