Wyoming Farm Bureau 91st Annual Meeting November 11-13 in Cody – Oct. 22, 2010
Farm Bureau members will be “Riding for the Brand” at the 91st annual meeting of the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation (WyFB) Nov. 11-13 at the Holiday Inn in Cody. Featured speakers, American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Bob Stallman and AFBF Grassroots/Political Advocacy Director Cody Lyon, will address agriculture issues and their impact on Wyoming.
AFBF President Bob Stallman has been the leader of the nation’s largest and most influential general agriculture organization since 2000. Stallman, a rice and cattle producer from Columbus, Texas, is the 11th president in the organization’s history. Prior to becoming AFBF President, Mr. Stallman was president of the Texas Farm Bureau. He became a member of AFBF’s board of directors in 1994. A 1974 honors graduate of the University of Texas, Mr. Stallman joined the family farm operation in 1975.
President Stallman will address national issues affecting agriculture at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 12. Issues surrounding the Clean Water Act, including the Chesapeake Bay Initiative; Grain Inspection & Stockyards Act proposed changes; estate taxes; and a look at the November elections outcome and what the results might mean to agriculture are among the many issues President Stallman will address.
AFBF’s Cody Lyon will present a look at grassroots political activism and effective policy development in Farm Bureau at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 12.
“This year’s speakers will give Farm Bureau members an opportunity to hear about national issues impacting us in Wyoming and how each person can make a difference beginning at the grassroots level,” Ken Hamilton, Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation executive vice president, said.
“We also encourage members to take advantage of the “Congressional Insight” program offered Thursday morning,” Hamilton concluded. “Participants will walk away with an insight to congressional work and how grassroots activism makes a difference.”
In addition to the informative speakers, members will work on policy development; which is the main focus of the meeting.
Foundation Symposium—Thursday morning
The Wyoming Farm Bureau Foundation will host a symposium Thursday morning Nov. 11 beginning at 8:15 a.m. A new addition to the annual meeting, the symposium will feature an interactive “Congressional Insight” program presented by AFBF’s Cody Lyon.
Thursday, Nov. 11
The meeting begins Thursday, Nov. 11 with registration at 11 a.m. Following lunch, WyFB’s four standing committees will meet to discuss resolutions pertaining to their committee areas and make recommendations for the entire delegate body to consider.
The four standing committees consist of the state chair, state vice chair and the committee chair from each county. “The county committee chairs play an important role in the policy development process,” Wyoming Farm Bureau President Perry Livingston explained. “The members roll up their sleeves Thursday afternoon and work on the resolutions that have been forwarded by each district.”
A county presidents meeting will follow the committee meetings. After that meeting, the YF&R Committee is offering a mini-breakout session on “Ag Books” classroom presentations.
Friday, Nov. 12
The general and business sessions of the Wyoming Farm Bureau begin Friday morning, Nov. 12 at 8 a.m. Members will hear reports from Wyoming Farm Bureau’s president and executive vice president as well as the executive vice president of Mountain West Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company. Voting delegates will begin discussing the resolutions and determining what issues affecting the agriculture industry and our rural way of life need addressed through policy.
After a day of business work, Friday evening’s banquet is a time to celebrate. The Distinguished Service and Farm Bureau Leadership Awards will be presented at this time.
Saturday, Nov. 13
The general session will reconvene at 8 a.m. for business work. The Young Farmer & Rancher report, County Activities of Excellence awards and state elections will take place Saturday morning.
The meeting is scheduled to adjourn after a noon luncheon.
Registration
Pre-registration is requested by Nov. 1, but not required for attendance. Reservations made after this date, will be honored based on availability. Online registration is available at www.wyfb.org or contact Dominique Giroux at 800.442.8325 ext. 723.
“We hope you will join us as we continue to serve as the ‘Voice for Agriculture’ by riding for the brand,” Livingston concluded.
The meeting agenda is available at www.wyfb.org
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.
-FB END-
Riding for the Brand
WyFB 91st Annual Meeting
2010 Annual Meeting
November 11-13, 2010
Holiday Inn, Cody, Wyoming 800.527.5544 ext 635
Hosted by the Counties of the Northwest District
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10
8:00 a.m. MWFB Retirement Planning Training
2:00 p.m. YF&R Committee Meeting
7:00 p.m. Board of Directors Executive Session
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11
7:00 a.m. Standing Committee Chairs Breakfast
8:00 a.m. Board of Directors Meeting
8:00 a.m. MWFB Retirement Planning Training
8:15 a.m. WyFB Foundation Forum “Congressional Insight”
11:00 a.m. Registration
Northwest District Meeting
Noon Luncheon
Recognition of Mountain West Agents: Tim Pexton, State Membership Chair
1:30 p.m. MWFB Agents Meeting
1:30 p.m. Committee Meetings
#1-General Issues – Kevin Baars, Board Liaison
#2-State Government Affairs – Butch Krause, Chair
#3-Agricultural Tax – Ryan Fieldgrove, Chair
#4-Natural/Environmental Resources – G.G. Kortes, Chair
3:00 p.m. Credentials Committee Meeting
Nominating Committee Meeting
Committee Advisor – Darlene Vaughan
4:00 p.m. County Presidents Breakout
5:00 p.m. Ag Books for Kids Classroom Presentations Breakout
Open to all interested members
DINNER ON YOUR OWN
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12
6:30 a.m. Breakfast Buffet for registered attendees
7:30 a.m. MWFB Agents Underwriting Fair
8:00 a.m. MWFB Life Underwriters Meeting
8:00 a.m. General Session
WyFB President Perry Livingston presiding
Delegates assemble by county
Pledge of Allegiance: Chalsey Kortes, YF&R State Chair
Welcome: Keith Hamilton, Northwest District Director
Response: Jim Hefenieder, WyFB Vice President
Introduction of President: Tim Pexton, Central District Director
President’s address: Perry Livingston, WyFB President
Insurance Report: Roy Schmett, CEO, Mountain West Farm Bureau Mutual Ins. Co.
Executive Vice President’s Report: Ken Hamilton, Wyoming Farm Bureau
Audit Report: Mark Mader, Mader, Tschacher, Peterson & Co., Public Accountants
10:00 a.m. Break
Sponsored by Mountain West Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance and the Mountain West Agencies in Wyoming: Warren Ayala/Ayala Agency, David Bell/Bell Agency, Ron Mischke/Mischke Agency, and Todd Seeton/Seeton Agency
10:20 a.m. MWFB Agents Meeting
10:30 a.m. General Session continues
Appointment of Parliamentarian by President Livingston
Credentials Committee report by chair
Official seating of delegates
Approval of agenda
Election of election chairperson and three (3) election clerks
Advisor – Darlene Vaughan
Explanation of voting methods on resolutions and revisionsPreliminary Nominating Committee report
List of Candidates Presented by Committee Chair David Vaughan
10:30 a.m. Speaker – AFBF President Bob Stallman
Noon Luncheon
Sponsored by the Coalbed Natural Gas Alliance
1:30 p.m. General Session continues
1:30 p.m. Speaker – Cody Lyon, AFBF Grassroots/Political Advocacy Director
Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation Member Video
3:00 p.m. Break – Ice Cream Social
Sponsored by Bank of Bridger Family of Banks in Butte, Greybull, Harlem, Joliet, Lovell, Powell, Red Lodge & Thermopolis
3:30 p.m. General Session continues
5:30 p.m. Adjourn
6:30 p.m. Cash Bar
7:00 p.m. Awards Banquet
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13
6:30 a.m. Breakfast Buffet for registered attendees
8:00 a.m. General Session
10:00 a.m. Break
Sponsored by Farm Credit Services of America
10:30 a.m. General Session continues
Nominating Committee report by chair
Election of officers – President, Vice President, Director-at-Large
Election Chair Presiding
ELECTION FORMAT:
1) Nominations from floor
2) Candidates address delegates
3) Election of officers
Format is repeated for each of the three offices: President, Vice President and Director-at-Large
County Activities of Excellence Award
YF&R Report
Former Farm Bureau Members Memorial Presentation
Consideration of resolutions and approval of format for resolutions at 2011 Annual Meeting
Noon Luncheon
SGA Committee meets with chairs of NER, General Issues, and Ag Tax to prepare Legislative and WyFB priority recommendations during lunch
1:20 p.m. General Session continues (if necessary)
Adjourn
CONTACT:
Ken Hamilton, WyFB Executive Vice President, 307.721.7712 or [email protected]
Perry Livingston, WyFB President, 307.283.2858 or [email protected]
Kerin Clark, WyFB Media Director, 307.532.2002 or [email protected]