February 26, 2014
www.gfb.org
Vol. 32 No. 8
COUNTY FARM BUREAU PRESIDENTS MEET, HEAR SENATE CANDIDATES During the 2014 Georgia Farm Bureau Presidents’ Conference county Farm Bureau Presidents heard campaign speeches from five candidates running for the U.S. Senate and attended workshops pertaining to Farm Bureau activities. The conference, held Feb. 19 and 20 at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education on the UGA campus in Athens, opened with the Senate Candidates Forum. Republicans Paul Broun, Phil Gingrey, Karen Handel, Jack Kingston and David Perdue each presented his or her case to succeed Sen. Saxby Chambliss, who is stepping down at the end of the year. Democrat Michelle Nunn was invited but could not attend because of a scheduling conflict. GFB Legislative Director Jon Huffmaster spoke during the Feb. 20 opening session, outlining key provisions in the recently passed farm Morehead bill, noting that numerous rules and regulations under the bill have to be worked out. He also discussed bills in the Georgia General Assembly. He and GFB President Zippy Duvall urged the county presidents to contact lawmakers to express their views on laws affecting agriculture. “We want to tell our county presidents how important they are to the process,” Duvall said of GFB’s work to get farm-related laws passed. “With them coming in and backing up what we say, sharing their own stories from their farms, that puts credibility to what our policy says. It puts credibility to what our people who work for us say. It just makes the whole process come together.” Duvall also recognized his administrative assistant Ginger Huff, who is retiring this spring. Huff received a standing ovation from the county presidents. Duvall also introduced new Associate Director of Field Services Dennis Black. UGA President Dr. Jere Morehead spoke at lunch on Feb. 20, emphasizing the importance of expanding the university’s ag research activities. He noted that the work done by UGA researchers benefits people and communities across the state and beyond. “It’s important not just because we’re a land-grant institution but also because we’re a research institution,” Morehead said. “We need to push the envelope as far as possible.” The workshops centered on membership recruitment, forming and maintaining partnerships with local 4-H and FFA chapters and management tools available to county presidents. GFB Field Services Director Mike Copeland and 3rd District Field Representative Ricky Lane led the workshop on increasing membership, also noting what the organization does for farmers. Georgia Agricultural Education Program Manager Chip Bridges gave an overview of the state’s agricultural education programs and suggested ways county Farm Bureaus can support ag education. State 4-H Leader Arch Smith discussed the missions and successes of the 4-H program.