GFB members to meet Dec. 5-8 for 66th annual convention

by Jennifer Whittaker, Editor

GFB members can catch up and get new program ideas by visiting the display booths in the exhibit hall during convention.

Georgia Farm Bureau members will gather on Jekyll Island, Dec. 5-8, for the organization’s 66th annual convention.

The theme of the convention is Celebrating Agriculture... Programs, Policies and People. Numerous activities scheduled throughout the convention such as the Young Farmer Discussion Meet, Mc-Kemie Competition and presentation of the state awards will focus on the success of county Farm Bureau programs.

Delegates will spend Tuesday discussing policy before adopting the organization’s official policy which will guide GFB’s legislative agenda for the coming year. The people who make up Farm Bureau will be honored through activities such as the County Presidents’ and Secretaries’ Reception and Young Farmer Breakfast. GFB anticipates celebrating the milestone event of reaching a total membership of more than 400,000 member-families.

Convention activities will get underway Sunday, Dec. 5, when the Young Farmer Discussion Meet begins at 12:30 p.m. in Hartley Auditorium and continues throughout the afternoon. Registration and exhibits open at 1 p.m. in the Jekyll Island Convention Center and will be open until 5:45 p.m.

Monday’s events will begin at 7 a.m. with the Young Farmer Breakfast where the 2004 Young Farmer Achievement Finalists will be recognized. The General Session will convene at 9 a.m. and will include the final round of the Young Farmer Discussion Meet, recognition of the state essay winner and the annual report given by GFB President Wayne Dollar. Gov. Sonny Perdue will give the keynote address.

During the General Session on Monday, GFB President Wayne Dollar will recognize 12 members of Georgia’s Congressional delegation for receiving the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Friend of Farm Bureau Award for the 108th Congress. Georgia Congressional members receiving the award are: Sens. Zell Miller and Saxby Chambliss, Reps. Sanford Bishop, Max Burns, Mac Collins, Nathan Deal, Phillip Gingrey, Johnny Isakson, Jack Kingston, John Linder, Charlie Norwood, and David Scott.

AFBF presents the award every two years to lawmakers who have been advocates of agriculture during the last Congress. Some of the legislative issues by which AFBF gauged the delegates’ support for agriculture included ag spending, energy, tax cuts, healthy forests, estate taxes, association health plans that would allow farmers and small business to join across state lines to obtain lower group health insurance rates, health savings accounts, COOL funding, public land leases, easing restrictions on travel to Cuba, approving a tobacco buyout and a Morocco Free Trade Agreement.

Commodity conferences will be held Monday afternoon featuring specialists who will address management and policy issues. FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF COMMODITY CONFERENCES, CLICK HERE.

The annual awards and entertainment program begins Monday evening at 8:30 p.m. Convention attendees will have the opportunity to win $1,000 and assorted prizes in the Young Farmer Raffle. Tickets may be purchased for $10 at the Young Farmer booth in the exhibit hall. The drawing for the raffle prizes and $1,000 grand prize will be held after the awards program. Entertainment will be provided by Clovers & Company.

Tuesday activities begin at 7 a.m. with the annual Membership Breakfast. Voting delegates will convene at 9 a.m. to discuss and approve policy. Later Tuesday, delegates will elect the 2005 board of directors. Wayne Dollar is running unopposed for the Georgia Farm Bureau presidency. Other positions up for election without opposition are South Georgia vice president, the designation of 1st vice president and district director positions.