Wallace's Farmer, IA
11-27-07
Iowa Farm Bureau to Hold 89th Annual Meeting
Compiled By Staff
The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation's 89th annual meeting will focus on the theme
"Energizing Iowa." This year's meeting will be held in Des Moines at the Polk
County Convention Complex on Dec. 7-8.
"This year's annual meeting is focused on 'Energizing Iowa' – something Iowa
Farm Bureau members have been doing for years," says IFBF President Craig
Lang. "Iowa agriculture is now, more than ever, fueling, healing, clothing, feeding
and energizing the world. Our annual meeting is a great time to celebrate this."
Lang will deliver his annual meeting address on Saturday, Dec. 8 at 9 a.m.
Keynote speaker for the 2007 IFBF annual meeting is David Beurle, founder of
Inno¬¬vative Leadership Australia and a rural-development advocate. Beurle and
his organization work to bring tools and skills to people who choose to make their
home in rural towns and regions. Beurle will deliver his address titled, "The
Power of Your Place," during the general session Saturday Dec. 8. He'll explain
why Iowa farmers should use their experience in adapting to change by taking a
leadership role in community-development initiatives.
Five educational seminars planned
Members are also invited to attend two of five educational seminars at the annual
meeting on Friday, Dec. 7. The seminars begin at 10:30 a.m. and repeat at 2:30
p.m. Seminars include:
* Rolf Nordstrom, executive dir¬ector of the Great Plains Institute, and Dr.
Robert Brown, Iowa Farm Bureau director of the Office of Biorenewables
Programs at Iowa State University, will provide an outlook on renewable
energy in the Upper Midwest. The session will address all forms of renewable
energy, including wind and biofuels, and their economic impact on rural
communities.
* AgraGate Executive Officer Dave Krog will give an update on the AgraGate
Climate Credits Corp. and its national carbon offsets aggregation program.
* The 2007 Farm Bill will be the topic of discussion at a seminar led by Mary Kay
Thatcher, American Farm Bureau Federation director of public policy, and Mark
Salvador, IFBF national policy advisor. The two lobbyists will answer members'
questions about farm bill proposals and implementation.
* Betty Wolanyk, AFBF director of agricultural education, will give an interactive
presentation on how farmers can address misconceptions about agriculture. She
will separate the fact from fiction related to modern agricultural practices.
* Also presenting at the educational seminars will be Steve Kopperud, founder of
the Animal Agriculture Alliance and senior vice president of Policy Directions in
Washington, D.C. Kopperud will discuss animal-welfare issues impacting
livestock production in Iowa and across the country.
A number of other activities planned
In addition to the educational seminars, the 2007 IFBF annual meeting will
feature a recognition luncheon to honor Farm Bureau members; an industry
tradeshow; the young farmer discussion meet and award luncheon; and the
voting delegate business session.
During the business session, delegates will hold elections. Up for election this
year are: Craig Lang of Poweshiek County, IFBF president; Doug Gronau of
Crawford County, District 4 director; Joe Heinrich of Jackson County, District 6
director and Calvin Rozenboom of Mahaska County, District 8 director. In
addition, delegates will also elect 11 farmers to represent Iowa as delegates to
the American Farm Bureau annual meeting in New Orleans Jan. 13-16.
Farm Bureau members can also take advantage of special holiday
entertainment. Last year's popular "Jingle Bell Bash" will be held again at the Des
Moines Scottish Rite Masonic Center on Friday at 7 p.m., and reserved tickets
are available for Farm Bureau members to attend the Saturday evening Radio
City Rockettes performance at the Des Moines Civic Center.
Members can register for the 2007 IFBF annual meeting at their county Farm
Bureau offices. For more information including a complete schedule of events,
visit the Iowa Farm Bureau Web site at www.iowafarmbureau.com.