What Happens in Nevada Ag Doesn't Always Happen in Nevada--YF&R Conference 2012 (Part 1)

Ben LaCrosse--AFBF YF&R Chair, welcoming us to his home
state of Michigan for the 2012 AFBF YF&R Conference.

What Happens in Nevada Ag Doesn't Always Happen in Nevada--Actually a lot of times it's happening all over the United States at the different Farm Bureau Conference that American Farm Bureau holds each year.  In Fact, this year, it was happening in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the AFBF National Young Farmer and Rancher Conference, where 990 registered members came together to the theme of "Your Voice, Our Future."    Last month over 20 Nevada Farm Bureau members headed to Hawaii for the AFBF Annual Meeting, and at the end of that month 11 Nevada YF&R members spent a weekend in Utah learning from their YF&R conference.  So, while the cows and the plows stay in Nevada, the learning and development to promote and protect our state's agriculture is happening where you might not expect it!

At this years meeting, we started off with a meeting of the State Chairs and Coordinator from each state, to get a brief overview of the next few days and to give us packets that we could use to collect information for the AFBF's Centennial Development Project- a huge, nationwide evaluation of Farm Bureau and Ag statistics over the past century, the trends that it has followed, the trends that are projected, and how the actual members feel about things such as threats to Farm Bureau, untalked about things in Farm Bureau, changes that should or shouldn't be made.  We were assigned tables for lunch the next day and asked to visit with our table members and then compile a report for our State Chair and Coordinator breakfast on Monday morning.

We began the conference Saturday morning with a welcome from Michigan Farm Bureau President, Wayne Wood.  He was followed by Jane Eckert, CEO of Eckert Agrimarketing, whose topic was, "IF You Are So Doggone Smart, Why are You a Farmer."'  Jane was raised on a family farm and went away to California to pursue a career in marketing, only to find her way back to the family farm and life in agriculture where she was able to combine her career with the lifestyle and tradition of the family farm she loved.

After lunch it is on to the Breakout sessions, where the real learning begins, from technical to educational, to leadership to development, they try to cover areas that will be useful to all of us, only thing is you have to pick and choose.  So, while I headed off to the State Chair session (which I felt was one of the best I have attended over the past few years) Grant headed off to "Tools for Successful Farm Transition and Establishing a New Farm or Farmer In, On, or Alongside an Existing Farm or Farmer."  Which I am sad to say I missed, because he really enjoyed and a lot of what they covered were ideas that were really great for issues my parents are facing at their farm, and similar to things that will be coming up at my Grandpa's.  There were more sessions on Internet Marketing, Effective Risk Management Strategies, Education for Farm Women (mainly on developing leadership) and "Can one voice truly make a difference?" which had a big focus on getting involved in policy development, speaking to elected officials, and what 'grassroots' really means.  

Heading to the B.O.B. for dinner with Arizona.

After our busy day, it was time for dinner with Arizona YF&R.  Every other year the states are paired to go to dinner at a place of their choosing.  So, as per Arizona's request we headed to what Grand Rapids knows as 'The B.O.B."  The BIG OLD BUILDING.  Once an old warehouse, it has been converted to restaurants,  bars and clubs, one, called Gilly's where we had reservation with the 16 members of Arizona's group.

Unfortunately the pics below were awful, I didn't realize I had the wrong setting on and didn't want to take them again since I had already blinded everyone, so this is what you get!!

Anyway, we had a great dinner with them and look forward to seeing them all next year as the National YF&R Conference 2013 goes to Phoenix.  After dinner there was ice cream Sundays and the Scott Thompson Band performing back at the convention center for the rest of the evening.  Gotta admit, it was actually pretty fun--we don't get to dance much, and even though my husband doesn't have the most talented partner, he is pretty good at western swing and without kids around we got a few dances in!

Sunday brought Matt Lohr, the Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services.  Matt is a former YF&R member who has been very actively involved in some of YF&R's great programs, even winning national competitions and participating in PALs program.  Matt and his wife Andrea have spoken at many events to promote agriculture and he served for 5 years in the Virginia State Legislature after realizing that it was time to practice what he was preaching by encouraging such practices.    Matt was definitely one of the most dynamic speakers of the conference and really was one of us, leading by example.

After attending the general session in which he spoke, I definitely wanted to attend Matt's breakout session "Making an Impact."  Matt said that the hardest thing he has ever done in his life was run that first time for the state senate.  It all started with a phone call asking him to consider running for the vacancy in his district.  He immediately wanted to say no, but his wife gently reminded him of what he had spent so much time preaching to other farmers and ranchers about getting involved, seeking political office, making your voice heard.  So after family discussion and a lot of prayer, he went for it and became the only full time farmer serving in their state legislature.  His wife was actually diagnosed with cancer and fought a hard several year battle with it before passing away last summer, which of course, made his work and effort even more admirable.  What an example of what our voice means and what we can do by sharing our story and getting involved!

Debbie Stabenow, Senator from Michigan.

Lunch brought us addresses from some of our major sponsors, like CASE IH, Scott Rasch, The United Soybean Board, John Butler, and Greetings from the Hill, Michigan State Senator Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan farmgirl working hard for the Farm Bill and other agricultural issues facing the nation.





Along with the speakers, the food and the new friends, there were also opportunities for learning more in a mock policy development class, the collegiate discussion meet was also being held, and in conjunction with everything else, classes for Beginning farmers and Ranchers who are not necessarily involved in Farm Bureau, but trying to get involved in the field.  Their is also a Silent Auction in which states donate items and Nationwide will match funds up to $5000--this year we made $9000 off of it which goes to "building awareness, understanding and a positive public perception of agriculture though education."  More breakout sessions on: Sharing you story through blogging, What's in FB for Collegiate members, Communicating with Consumers, Change is?, Knowing your Farm Insurance, and more.

Derek Sawyer from Kansas has been my regional representative from the AFBF YF&R
committee for the past two years.

Sunday closed with a banquet dinner, address from new AFBF sponsor GM, by Bob Briedis, and farewells to the retiring members of the AFBF YF&R committee.

Most YF&R National Committee members serve as couples, though there are
usually several that are single.  This is Derek and Katie with Julie Roop at the end of
their tow-year term.

Our closing speaker on Monday morning before we headed out for the tours was Bryan Townsend, a motivational speaker, known best for his 18 years of live radio broadcast from Talladega's NASCAR Super Speedway time trials.  Which helped form his speaking theme of, "STAND ON IT!  Succeeding in Challenging Times."  

I have to say, I still start laughing when I think of some of the stories he told--hysterical, and yet very motivating, too!  

After this we headed for our tour buses, so all of that will come in PART 2 of my report!