GFB has strong showing at AFBF meeting

by Jennifer Whittaker, Editor

Pictured from left: GFB's Joel McKie talked his way into the Final Four round of the AFBF YF&R Discussion Meet Competition. Bo Stone of North Carolina, who won the contest, Teresa Monk of Texas and Kim Davis of Ohio were the other three finalists.

Georgia Farm Bureau was well represented at the 86th Annual American Farm Bureau Federation Convention held in Charlotte, N.C., Jan. 9-12.

The organization received the 2004 Navigator Award for outstanding membership achievement and an AFBF Award for Excellence in Education and Ag Promotion.

“We had a great delegation at this convention with right at 152 members attending,” Dollar said. “I’m proud of our Georgia delegation. One of our former young farmer committee chairmen has been elected to serve as chairman of the AFBF Young Farmer and Rancher Committee. Also, our Young Farmer Discussion Meet contestant made it to the final four. Our young farmer program is getting stronger and stronger.”

Wilcox County Farm Bureau member Joel McKie, a UGA senior majoring in agribusiness, was one of three runners-up in the Young Farmer Discussion Meet. As a runner-up, McKie received a $6,000 U.S. Savings Bond, courtesy of Cummins Engine Co. Bo Stone of North Carolina won the contest. Kim Davis of Ohio and Teresa Monk of Texas were the other runners-up.

Keith and Sandi Mitcham of Newton County represented Georgia in the Young Farmer and Rancher Achievement contest. Jeffrey and Andrea Mitzner of Indiana won the AFBF award.

Ben Boyd of Screven County was elected to a one-year term as chairman of the 2005 American Farm Bureau Young Farmer Committee. Boyd was elected to the position by his fellow committee members during the 86th Annual American Farm Bureau Convention. This is Boyd’s second year serving on the committee. As committee chairman, Boyd will serve on the AFBF Board of Directors.

“It's an honor to have been selected, and I appreciate everyone supporting me,” Boyd said. “I’m really excited, and I look forward to serving as chairman of the AFBF Young Farmer Committee. We’re a diverse group from all over the country, but, even as diverse as the group is, we still have common opportunities and problems that we’re attempting to address as a committee.”

Ben is the son of Olin and Laurice Boyd of Sylvania. Ben and his father, Olin, and brother, Will, grow corn, cotton, peanuts and soybeans on their diversified row crop farm. They also raise beef cattle. Boyd said

Eight Georgia Farm Bureau women attended the Women’s Meeting and Luncheon at the AFBF convention. Pictured left to right: Jeannie Tucker (state chair, Berrien Co., 10th District); Linda Dean (2nd District, Stephens Co.), Joan Mitchell (3rd District, Polk Co.), Odessa Dollar (Thomas Co.), Avis McGahee (4th District, McDuffie Co.), Ann Payne (1st District, Gordon Co.), Hazel Masters (9th District, Dougherty Co.), Lou Ellen Peek (former state chair, Thomas Co.), Peggy Smith (former state chair, Turner Co.).

that serving on the AFBF Young Farmer Committee has allowed him to share the perspectives of Georgia farmers with other young farmers from across the country.

Boyd served on the Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer Committee from 2002-2003 and was committee chairman in 2003. He earned an agriculture degree from Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College and a business degree from Georgia Southern University.

Jeannie Tucker, GFB Women’s Committee chairman, accepted the Challenge Award from AFBF President Bob Stallman and AFBF Women’s Chair Terry Gilbert at the annual meeting. The Challenge Award is given when 100% of the members of a Farm Bureau committee contribute at least $25 each to the AFBF Foundation for Agriculture.

While kicking off the convention, AFBF President Bob Stallman reiterated the organization’s support for the Beef Check-Off Program whose legality will soon be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. Stallman said 70% of America’s beef producers support the check-off.

Another top priority for AFBF in 2005 will be to maintain the structure and funding of the current farm bill. Passage of a comprehensive energy bill and elimination of the death tax will be top legislative priorities for AFBF in 2005, Stallman said.