GFB well represented at AFBF Convention

Pictured from left: GFB Women's Committee Chairman Kim Brown, GFB Women's Committee 2nd District Representative Linda Dean and GFB members Peggy Smith, Edna Prather, Dianne Elkins and Bonnie Duvall served as voting delegates at the AFBF Women's Meeting.

A delegation of about 170 Georgia Farm Bureau members traveled to New Orleans, La., to attend the 89th Annual American Farm Bureau Convention, Jan. 13-16.

Polk County Farm Bureau member Chad Carlton talked his way into the final round of the Young Farmer Discussion Meet during which he competed against contestants from Indiana, Wisconsin and North Carolina. Carlton was one of three runners-up in the contest and received a $6,000 U.S. Savings Bond and a Farm Boss chainsaw, both courtesy of Stihl. Don Shoemaker of Indiana won the contest.
During the final round of the competition, Carlton and the other contestants discussed the public's perception of the family farm and how that perception impacts public policy decisions. Carlton and his wife, Julie, have an active role with his family's dairy farm and have launched a natural products agribusiness.
Berrien County Farm Bureau members Ashley and Kim Lane represented Georgia in the Young Farmer Achievement Contest. The Lanes have a diversified row crop farm on which they grow corn, cotton, peanuts and hay. They also operate a crop dusting business. Dave and Kelly Ferguson of Indiana won the YF Achievement Award.
During the annual awards program, Georgia was presented four Awards of Excellence in the program areas of agriculture education and promotion, leadership development, member services and public relations/information. GFB also received a President's Award for leadership development. GFB was one of only 14 states to receive a President's Award, which are presented for excellence in each of the five program areas according to membership category size.

Chad Carlton (second from right) represented Georgia in the American Farm Bureau Young Farmer discussion meet at the AFBF Convention in New Orleans. Carlton is pictured in the final round of competition.

“Georgia Farm Bureau was well represented at our annual convention. We're so proud of Chad for making it to the final round of the Young Farmer Discussion Meet Contest and were well represented by the Lanes in the Achievement Contest,” GFB President Zippy Duvall said. “The Awards of Excellence and President's Award we received recognize the hours of hard work our staff and county volunteers put into promoting agriculture to the public during the past year.”
While delivering the keynote address, Gen. Colin Powell (Ret.), who served as secretary of state during President Bush's first term, predicted exports of U.S. farm products to foreign nations such as China will increase, China now has a middle class, which expects a better standard of living.
Bob Stallman was re-elected president of the American Farm Bureau Federation and Barry Bushue, a nursery and berry producer from Oregon, was elected AFBF vice president to succeed Steve Appel, a wheat and barley producer from Washington, who retired.