Photo by Logan Thomas
January 12, 2023
www.gfb.org
Vol. 5 No. 1
AFBF CONVENTION FOCUSES ON FARM BUREAU FAMILY Georgia Farm Bureau was well-represented at the 104th American Farm Bureau Federation Convention held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Jan. 6-11. GFB’s delegation of about 120-members and staff attended educational workshops, heard from inspirational speakers and had a chance to soak up the sun and culture of the U.S. territory. During the opening session of the 104th AFBF Convention, Georgia Farm Bureau was recognized for receiving AFBF Awards of Excellence in all four program work areas of advocacy, engagement & outreach, leadership & business development and coalitions & partnerships. “Georgia was well-represented at this AFBF Convention. We’re especially proud of the MycoLogic team from Kennesaw State University for winning the People’s Choice Award in the Agriculture Innovation Challenge. We’re proud of how Brian, Colt and Willie represented us in the Young Farmers and Ranchers events,” said GFB President Tom McCall. “We’re also excited about the memorandum of understanding AFBF signed with John Deere at the convention that gives farmers the ability to repair their farm equipment. This is something Georgia farmers have wanted for a long time and GFB worked with AFBF to achieve this.” Duvall praises AFBF members’ advocacy efforts Puerto Rico Farm Bureau President Hector Cordero-Toledo welcomed Farm Bureau members from across the country to San Juan. This is the first time the AFBF convention has been held in the U.S. territory. AFBF President Zippy Duvall delivered his annual address at the opening session of the organization's 104th annual convention on Jan. 8. During his optimistic speech, Duvall discussed the organization’s successes in 2022, including grassroots advocacy efforts to send more than 38,000 messages to lawmakers and regulatory agencies. “We have a mighty force of Farm Bureau advocates. When we combine these advocates with our team of expert lobbyists, we are a force to be reckoned with,” Duvall said. Duvall also shared the exciting announcement that AFBF had reached a memorandum of understanding with John Deere that gives farmers’ and ranchers’ the right to repair their farm equipment. The MOU is the culmination of several years of discussions between AFBF and John -continued on next page