January 2023
A Florida Farm Bureau delegation of 61 members and staff attended the 104th American Farm Bureau Convention held in Puerto Rico, January 6-11.
Members participated in professional development sessions, competitive events and attended general sessions featuring guest speakers United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Bert Jacobs, co-founder of Life is Good® and Big Kenny Alphin of Big & Rich.
Florida was well represented in the Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) competitive events. K’Leigh Combs (Duval County) presented in the Excellence in Agriculture competition, Lee Bigham (Jackson County) competed in the Achievement in Agriculture and Bernie LeFils (Volusia County) competed in the Discussion Meet. LeFils advanced to the Final Four and was the second-place runner-up.
The Volusia County YF&R group was invited to share the Taste of Volusia event with attendees at the Tradeshow during the convention.
Florida was recognized by AFBF with the New Horizon Award for the Home Field AGvantage tailgate event. The New Horizon Award honors the most innovative new state Farm Bureau programs. Florida was also recognized for receiving the AFBF Awards of Excellence in all four program areas of advocacy, engagement & outreach, leadership & business development and coalitions & partnerships.
Florida delegates voted on national policy including modernization of the Farm Bill, enhancements to the federal milk pricing system and formalizing American Farm Bureau’s position on the 2022 Waters of the U.S. rule.
To view convention photos, click here.