From the February/March, 2006 issue:

GFB members attend 87th AFBF Convention
Georgia Farm Bureau President Wayne Dollar (left) accepts the American Farm Bureau Federation Navigator Award from AFBF President Bob Stallman in recognition of GFB’s membership growth during the past year.
More than 200 Georgia Farm Bureau members traveled to Nashville, Tenn., for the 87th Annual American Farm Bureau Federation Convention, held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, Jan. 8-11.

Members attended seminars addressing a variety of topics regarding agricultural production, marketing and legislative issues. Exhibits in the showcase spotlighted agriculture and ag businesses from across the country along with farmer inventions and ag promotion activities conducted by county Farm Bureaus across the country. Georgia’s voting delegates discussed and voted on the 2006 AFBF policy during the last two days of the convention.

“It’s great to have 50 states and Puerto Rico working together. We’ll wrestle with all of the major issues impacting agriculture,” Georgia Farm Bureau President Wayne Dollar said of AFBF policy discussions. “Our major issue is getting a good new farm bill with longevity that farmers can depend on.”

Georgia was one of 13 states to receive the Navigator Award for its membership growth during the past year. GFB also received the AFBF Award of Excellence for Ag Education and promotion, member services, and policy implementation.

Berrien County Farm Bureau member Chris Paulk won the first two rounds of the Young Farmer Discussion Meet in which he competed, talking himself into the Sweet 16 Round where he discussed the risks agroterrorism poses to America’s national security. Paulk teaches ag education in Berrien County. Jennifer Russell of Minnesota won the contest.

“This was a very competitive competition with a lot of good contestants,” Paulk said. “A competition like this is important because it helps prepare a future generation of leaders for the ag industry.”

Keith and Lauren Lord of Madison County represented Georgia in the Young Farmer Achievement Contest. Matt and Kellie Muller of Oklahoma won the award.

During the closing General Session, Screven County Farm Bureau member Ben Boyd was recognized for serving as chairman of the AFBF Young Farmer & Rancher Committee during the past year.


Johanns addresses county Farm Bureau presidents

Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns thanked county Farm Bureau presidents for the leadership they provide America’s agriculture industry while addressing the county presidents at their luncheon during the 87th Annual AFBF Convention.
“You’re at the grassroots level where the rubber meets the road,” Johanns said. “No one is more aware of the changes and trends than you are at the county level.”

Johanns said USDA is committed to the development of renewable energy to help alleviate the rising fuel costs America’s farmers are facing. He announced $19 million in grants the USDA is awarding for developing renewable energy projects.

Responding to questions at a later press conference, Johanns said that while he would like to maintain current farm programs, “there’s a consensus that the federal deficit has to be dealt with. I can tell you without any hesitation that increasing federal deficits are not good for agriculture,” Johanns said. “This is an industry where debt and increasing interest rates affect your bottom line. The president has set a goal of cutting the federal debt in half over the next four years.”

Johanns said he anticipates that the USDA will have analyzed the comments and data collected from the 52 USDA farm bill forums held across the country last year by the end of March and will publish a synopsis for the public. He predicts the House and Senate will hold farm bill hearings this summer but told reporters not to expect “hard proposals to be released until the end of 2006 or early 2007” adding that the USDA is “months away from making farm bill proposals.”

When asked if the USDA would pursue closing FSA offices, Johanns answered, “Congress didn’t like that idea, but in the course of the discussion we had folks saying we recognize something needs to be done. We’ve got a computer network that predates the Internet, and we have offices with no full-time employees. We’ll work with Congress and try to work on these issues.”


Cal Ripken shares secret of perseverance with FB members

While delivering the keynote address at the AFBF Convention, Cal Ripken, Jr., baseball’s “Iron Man,” shared the eight traits that helped him set a major league record of nearly 17 continuous years of play.

Ripken appeared in 2,632 consecutive games from May 30, 1982, to Sept. 19, 1998, before voluntarily sitting out a game.

The retired Baltimore Orioles shortstop said having the right approach to meet the challenges facing him, having a strong will to succeed, having a passion for what he did, loving to compete, being consistent, being a person of conviction, having both mental and physical strength and balancing the personal and professional aspects of his life were the eight traits that helped him persevere while wearing his No. 8 jersey.

Ripken played shortstop and third base during his career. He was the American League’s Most Valuable Player in 1983 and 1991.