Ag News
GFB members step up and drive forward at AFBF Convention
Posted on Jan 30, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Georgia had a strong presence at the 106th American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Convention Jan. 25-28 in San Antonio. Jackson County’s Cain Thurmond won second place in the AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Discussion Meet. Habersham County Farm Bureau received a County of Excellence Award for its Summer on the Farm Camp and had a booth in the center aisle of the trade show. Georgia Peanut Commission representatives handed out its ever-popular red bags of roasted peanuts. Magnolia Loom, based in Sandersville, sold its signature t-shirts made of Georgia Grown cotton sewn in the U.S.
About 160 Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) members attended the AFBF Convention held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. Attendees had the opportunity to hear motivational and educational speakers with messages designed to help them “Step Up and Drive Forward” as Farm Bureau leaders and county volunteers. There was also time to enjoy San Antonio’s Riverwalk, which adjoins the convention center, visit the Alamo, and eat local cuisine.
Some 120 members of the GFB delegation enjoyed a day trip to Fredericksburg, Jan. 24, where they toured the town and National Museum of the Pacific War. The outing included a lunch of Texas BBQ catered by Kreuz Market.
Saturday: Women’s Leadership meetings & Habersham County recognized
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Convention activities kicked off on Saturday, Jan. 25 with 11 GFB members representing Georgia at the regional caucus and national Women's Leadership events at the convention. GFB appreciates the following for serving as delegates at these meetings: Alicia Berry, Julie Hardy, Terri Marks, Carol McQueen, Lindsey Morgan, Missie Petty, Lisa Rainwater, Angie Roberts, Romy Strickland, Lauren Stanley and Jane Wooten.
Other Saturday events included Cain Thurmond of Jackson County competing in the preliminary rounds of the Young Farmers & Ranchers Discussion Meet. Kaleb and Kaitlyn Marchant of Oglethorpe County gave their Excellence in Agriculture presentation. See the article in this newsletter about the YF&R competitions for complete details.
Also on Saturday, Habersham County Farm Bureau (HCFB) was one of five counties invited to give a brief presentation about their County Activity of Excellence project during a session on the Cultivation Stage in the AFBF trade show. HCFB Office Manager Madison Bennett explained how the county held a four-day camp last summer for kindergarten through 4th-grade students that highlighted a different Georgia commodity each day - dairy, beef, poultry & cotton. The camp included virtual video tours of farms that produced each commodity, lessons about the commodity and a hands-on craft.
AFBF presented certificates to 24 counties nationwide for their outstanding county programs and gave each county a booth in the trade show to share their programs with Farm Bureau members from other states who might be interested in replicating the idea in their county.
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American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall & his wife, Jennifer, present a County Activities of Excellence Certificate to Habersham County Farm Bureau members from left, Pam Brooks, HCFB Office Manager Madison Bennett & HCFB President Chip Brooks.
“We wanted to offer a summer day camp to connect students with farming,” HCFB Office Manager Madison Bennett said. “We highlighted some of the major commodities grown in Georgia or that students consume a lot of.”
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Another big draw at the trade show for GFB members was the chance to have their photo taken with one of the longhorns provided by Ralph Fisher’s Photo Animals based in LaGrange, Texas. The gentle giants patiently let thousands of people pet them and pose for photos for hours. Fisher’s animals have been featured in movies and late-night talk shows.
During a session in the trade show titled The Silent Storm: From Struggle to Strength, LaDonna Gatlin, sister to the Gatlin Brothers and suicide attempt survivor, shared her story. Gatlin told how she got to the point where she took 31 sleeping pills. She talked about perpetual anxiety, where the brain's fight-or-flight functions do not disengage. Gatlin shared the stage with AFBF's Jessica Cabrera and Emily Buckman and discussed the organization's Farm State of Mind program and the Togetherall suite of services available to help with mental health challenges.
Sunday: Flapjack breakfast, AFBF awards & Flying without Fear
Many GFB members started the second day of the convention at the AFBF Foundation Flapjack Breakfast. The foundation announced it's 2025 Book of the Year - The Soil in Jackie's Garden by Peggy Thomas & illustrated by Neely Daggett.
GFB President Tom McCall & GFB First Lady Jane McCall enjoy the Flapjack Breakfast with GFB Chief Financial Officer Rachel Mosely and GFB Administrative Assistant Jennifer Wilder.
In the opening session on Sunday morning, GFB President Tom McCall carried Georgia’s flag during the parade of flags to start the convention. AFBF President Zippy Duvall gave his annual address, noting the organization's Year of the County President in 2024. During his speech, Duvall praised county Farm Bureaus for their work to support their communities, pick up pieces after storms and seek ways to connect farms with consumers. He also summarized key federal issues on which AFBF has led the charge, including recent legislation to fund the government and extend the farm bill.
GFB and other state Farm Bureaus were recognized during the opening general session for their outstanding member programs and advocacy work. GFB was honored for earning all four of the AFBF Awards of Excellence presented in these program areas: Advocacy, Coalitions & Partnerships, Engagement & Outreach, and Leadership & Business Development. GFB also received an AFBF Foundation Scholar Award for being the state Farm Bureau that donated the most money to the foundation in its membership category.
During the mid general session on Sunday afternoon, AFBF presented its Distinguished Service Award to Collin Peterson, who was a staunch supporter of agriculture for the 30 years he served in the U.S. House of Representatives. During Peterson's time in the House representing Minnesota’s seventh congressional district, he served on the Agriculture Committee, including as chair from 2007-2011 and 2019-2021. He was instrumental in negotiating passage of the 2008, 2014 and 2018 farm bills.
Now retired from Congress, Peterson continues to focus on important work for agriculture. He is the founder of the Midwest Council on Agriculture, a group that advocates for agriculture and economic policy that supports long-term sustainability of the industry.
Decorated fighter pilot and founder of the non-profit Folds of Honor, Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, inspired the audience to honor the sacrifice of America’s servicemen and women. Rooney shared the obstacles he overcame to establish his charity that provides scholarships to disabled service members and their family members. He also authored "Fly Into the Wind: How to Harness Faith and Fearlessness on Your Ascent to Greatness."
Sirius, a 6-year-old Maremma sheepdog owned by Florida Farm Bureau members Jorge and Debbie Garcia-Bengochea, was named the 2025 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year. Daisy, owned by Kentucky Farm Bureau members Shelby and Lora Ennis, was named People’s Choice Pup, decided by an online voting competition. AFBF and Nestlé Purina PetCare partnered to give Sirius $5,000 in prize money, a trophy plate, a year’s supply of Pro-Plan dog food and other Purina products. Daisy received a trophy plate, Purina products and a $2,500 cash prize.
Monday: Farm Bill Update & Living Up to Your Potential
A farm bill session held at the American Farm Bureau Convention drew a standing room crowd as farmers across the U.S. gathered to hear what the U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Pennsylvania) and Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-Minnesota) had to say.
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Pictured from left, Agri-Pulse President Sara Wyant, moderated a panel discussion about the pending farm bill with U.S. House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) & U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson.
“Our number one task as the Agriculture Committee is to get this farm bill done and get it across the finish line,” Thompson said. “I want to get a farm bill done in 2025 because you [farmers and ranchers] need it. We don’t want to have to come back to Congress at the end of the year and ask for more financial assistance.”
The latest continuation of the 2018 farm bill the last Congress passed in December expires Sept. 30.
“In the last session of Congress, the House Agriculture Committee traveled together and visited 41 or 42 states holding listening sessions on the farm bill. We wrote it from the outside in,” Thompson said. “We’ve got a great foundation for a bill we can build on.”
Thompson said he doesn’t have a time frame for passing the farm bill other than “sooner rather than later.” The House Ag Committee is expected to hold its first meeting in February to get the ball rolling.
Both Thompson and Craig encouraged farmers to return to their home states and work to educate all members of their Congressional delegation – Democrats and Republicans- on the importance to our national security of getting a farm bill passed and the importance of the 12 programs it contains in addition to nutrition such as crop insurance, support programs, conservation programs, research/education.
They stressed that it would take bipartisan support from members of both parties to pass the farm bill.
Motivational speaker Eric Boles a former NFL wide receiver, delivered the keynote address at the closing session of the AFBF Convention in San Antonio.
Boles encouraged convention attendees to live up to their potential in all areas of their life.
Potential, Boles said, is dormant ability and must be transformed into performance to achieve success. Boles said there are four reasons people don’t grow: 1. They say they’re ok the way they are; 2) fear of the future/unknown; 3) fear of failure & 4) fear of rejection. Regarding the fear of failure, Boles said it’s important to prepare your children, employees or team mates to realize life can be hard but not to give up when things become tough. Boles warned against avoiding doing hard things because of fear.
He encouraged leaders to share their stories of fear and failure with those they lead or mentor to encourage them.
Tuesday: AFBF adopts policy & McCall re-elected to AFBF Board
Georgia Farm Bureau directors represented Georgia in the annual meeting of voting delegates at the AFBF Convention on Jan. 28. GFB had 12 delegates who participated in the business session where state delegates from across the U.S. determined the position AFBF will take on policy issues pertaining to agriculture and related topics for the next year. The policy the voting delegates considered originated with county Farm Bureaus across the U.S. and was approved by their respective state Farm Bureaus before advancing to AFBF meeting.
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“When you get farmers from across the U.S. together all of us have different issues we’re concerned about depending on our commodities or the part of the country we come from, but all of us have the same concern of taking care of farmers,” GFB President Tom McCall said. “Today we’ll discuss and decide what AFBFs policy will be to represent American farmers in D.C. for the next year. The biggest thing is getting a modern farm bill passed and that it includes good disaster relief provisions for future events. Getting a new farm bill passed is what everyone nationwide is working for.”
Policy the AFBF voting delegates approved covered passage of a new farm bill, enacting regulatory reform, and creating new markets for U.S. farmers. Delegates also adopted policy supporting the development and sale of domestically sourced sustainable aviation fuel.
They strengthened policy on alternative energy production, including increasing the responsibility of energy companies to manage land used for development, and prioritizing energy production on land not suitable for agriculture.
Recognizing the challenges of maintaining a strong agriculture workforce, delegates voted to stabilize labor costs to avoid drastic swings that put the economic sustainability of farms at risk. They also recommended the AFBF board study potential alternatives to the current Adverse Effect Wage Rate methodology used for the H-2A program.
On trade, delegates added policy in support of a United States—Mexico—Canada Agreement review process to encourage new opportunities while protecting U.S. agriculture from unfair competition.
Delegates also directed AFBF to press more forcefully for reform of the current requirements for small-scale meat, dairy and value-added processing facilities.
GFB President Tom McCall was re-elected to a two-year term to represent AFBF’s Southern Region on the AFBF Board of Directors along with the state presidents from Texas, North Carolina, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi and Oklahoma.
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