Beech Tree News Network

McConnell, Comer, Rand and Farmer among featured guest speakers

Louisville, KY (November 16, 2011) – More than 1,700 Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB) members from across the state will gather for the organization’s 92nd annual meeting November 30 through December 3 at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky. Delegates from all of the state’s 120 counties assemble for the four-day event to participate in committee meetings, business sessions, award presentations, officer elections and to adopt 2012 priority issues and policy revisions.

In addition to conducting organizational business, KFB hosts its annual meeting to reflect on both the successes and challenges experienced in Kentucky’s agriculture industry over the previous year. The full agenda of delegate activities begins on Thursday, December 1, with 10 commodity and special interest conferences covering a range of topics from tobacco and livestock to farm labor and agricultural chemicals. A one-day tradeshow – featuring agriculture associations and businesses from around the country, the KFB County Activities of Excellence and student agricultural science displays – simultaneously occupies the exhibit halls. Guest comments from current Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Richie Farmer, Commissioner of Agriculture-elect James Comer and a keynote address from James Wiesemeyer, Senior Vice President of Informa Economics, highlight the day’s Commodity Luncheon.

In between those activities and numerous other meetings scheduled on Thursday, attendees will take away valuable knowledge from the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture’s annual presentation on the state’s agricultural economic outlook. This much-anticipated session begins at 10 a.m.

During the morning general session on Friday, December 2, KFB President Mark Haney will update attendees with the president’s annual address. Delegates will later discuss and adopt resolutions in the afternoon general session, then break into district caucuses to nominate the 2012 KFB Board of Directors.

Saturday, December 3, begins with the organization’s annual Public Affairs Breakfast, highlighted by comments from Representative Rick Rand, the state’s Chairman of the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee. The morning event is followed by the annual meeting’s final general session. In this business meeting, U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell will speak to KFB’s delegates about national issues impacting agriculture in Kentucky. Additionally, voting delegates will elect directors and officers, then conclude with the final discussion and adoption of resolutions.

In other convention activities, the state’s “Farmer of the Year” and “Outstanding Young Farm Family” will be announced, awards will be given for county Farm Bureau achievements and top farm leaders will be recognized for distinguished service.

Kentucky Farm Bureau is a voluntary organization of farm families and their allies dedicated to serving as the voice of agriculture by identifying problems, developing solutions and taking actions which will improve net farm income, achieve better economic opportunities and enhance the quality of life for all. For more than three-quarters of a century, KFB has served as the “Voice of Kentucky Agriculture,” representing the interests of agricultural producers and rural communities. The organization is just the third Farm Bureau in the country to eclipse the 500,000 member family level, only the second to achieve 50 consecutive years of membership growth, and the first to achieve both distinctions. These milestones have helped the organization grow at such a rate that nearly one out of every three Kentucky households is now a member of KFB.