More Ways

This week-- more ways you can be involved!  Missouri Farm Bureau holds two important conferences, beginning Monday. 

The first is District FARM-PAC Annual Meetings.  Trustees--volunteers selected by the county Farm Bureau boards, attend a meeting in Jefferson City to meet and interview political candidates.  There are six FARM-PAC committees, organized by the six congressional districts.  At the annual meetings the trustees vote to give the official Farm Bureau endorsement to a candidate running for each of the offices of U. S. Congress, U. S. Senate, Governor and State Senate .  Endorsements are made based on a candidate's stance on ag issues, not political party.  Endorsements are not made in the State Representative races, but Farm Bureau does have a Friend of Agriculture Award for members of the Missouri House of Representatives who have a proven record of support for agriculture and rural Missouri.

If you would like to be a part of a FARM-PAC, simply talk to a member of your local Farm Bureau board.  Volunteers needed!  For more information, check out this link.

The second meeting, which will be held Monday and Tuesday, is the Commodity Conference and Legislative Briefing.  This conference is designed to inform farmers about current production ag topics.  It is fast paced, and highly informative.  Past participants return year after year to hear great speakers and stay on top of their industry.  The Farm Bureau website provides more information.

Usually in attendance at the Commodity Conference are members of the commodity advisory committee.  Members of this group assist Farm Bureau staff with issues affecting that specific industry. Advisory committees include beef, cotton, dairy, equine, feed grains and wheat, forestry, horticulture, rice, sheep, soybean and swine. Each year Farm Bureau members are appointed to the advisory committees by the state board of directors. If you have an interest in serving on one of the committees, you can contact the marketing and commodities department.  Their e-mails are listed on the MOFB website.
 Though you may not be able to drop everything and walk out the door to attend sessions this year, check back with our blog for information coming from these conferences, and think about becoming involved in 2012.

We'll see you then!