Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 7-8 - American Farm Bureau

Nashville, Tennessee Saturday, January 7— Sunday, January 8, 2006 

Farm Bureau Members Gather for 87th Convention 

The American Farm Bureau Federation welcomes approximately 6,000 of its members to 

Nashville, Tenn., for the 87th convention and the annual meeting of voting delegates. 

Nashville is known as Music City, USA, because of the Opryland radio program and the 

country music scene that grew up around it. So, it makes sense that Nashville is the home 

of the Country Music Hall of Fame. 

However, the city also offers tours of Antebellum homes and other historic sites; several other 

museums, including an agricultural museum and a science museum; great restaurants, some with live 

music performances; and, of course, the state capitol. See pages 10 and 15 for more information about 

Nashville history and attractions. 

Finding time to see those attractions could be a challenge, though, because there will also be plenty 

of attractions at the AFBF convention, inside the Gaylord-Opryland resort and conference center. In 

this first issue of The Nashville American you will find a map of the conference center, along with 

information about the many conferences, speeches and other activities that are planned for you. 

Issues will also be published Monday and Tuesday, recapping the events of the previous day and 

providing more details about the events yet to come. Copies of the Monday edition will be available 

Photo courtesy of Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau. 

Monday morning at the AFBF convention registration desk, and Monday afternoon outside the Delta 

Ballroom, where the general session will be held. 

The Tuesday edition will be available just outside the voting delegate session in the Presidential 

Ballroom. 

Inside this issue is also a guide to the many Farm Bureau Showcase exhibits, the additional seminars 

that are being put on by some of the Showcase exhibitors and lists of this year’s contestants in the 

various Farm Bureau contests. We hope these maps, lists and guides will help you enjoy the convention, 

as well as make the most of your time here in Nashville. 

New This Year 

The location of this year’s convention makes it easier to offer the quality—and quantity—of 

entertainment that Farm Bureau members enjoy. The convention will feature not one, not two, but three 

renowned country musicians. 

Sammy Kershaw, a multi-platinum country artist, will perform Monday, Jan. 9, at 7:30 p.m., after 

the awards program including the Awards for Excellence for state Farm Bureaus. 

Kershaw’s performance is sponsored by the John Deere Co. The program will take place in the 

Delta Ballroom. 

Some of Kershaw’s best known hits include “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful,” “I Can’t Reach 

Her Anymore,” “National Working Woman’s Holiday,” “Love of My Life,” “Cadillac Style,” “Don’t 

Go Near the Water” and “Haunted Heart.” 

Michael Martin Murphey, the “singing cowboy poet,” will perform on Sunday, Jan. 8, at 8 p.m., 

as part of the America’s Heartland concert and the annual American Farm Bureau Foundation for 

Agriculture Ice Cream Social. Murphey, known as Murph to many of his Farm Bureau friends, is most 

Continued on page 14 

‘America’s Heartland’ 

Shows Charms of Rural Life 

One of the highlights of 2005 for Farm Bureau was the debut of a new public television program 

titled “America’s Heartland.” 

The series profiles American farm and ranch families and celebrates the traditions and values 

of rural Americans. It began airing on PBS stations around the country in September. It is soon to 

air on a total of 163 PBS stations. 

Now, the show is getting even more visibility, thanks to the RFD-TV network, the 24-hour 

television network for rural America. 


SUNDAY’S ROUND-UP 

Sunday, January 8, 2006 

All rooms located in the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Conference Center 

7 a.m. • Young Farmer & Rancher (YFR) Registration, Bayou E Foyer 

7: 30 a.m. • Convention Registration, Delta Ballroom Pre-Function 

– 6 p.m. 

7:30 a.m. • YFR Discussion Meet: Competitor & Judge Orientation, 

Bayou E&D 

8:30 a.m. • Morning Devotions, Delta Ballroom 

9:30 a.m. • Showcase Opens, Ryman Exhibit Hall C2 

• YFR Discussion Meet Round 1, Bayou A-E, Canal A-E 

• Exhibitor Seminar: “Investing in the Future of Agriculture,” 

sponsored by Monsanto Co., Ryman Chambers 

10:30 a.m. • Issue Conferences: 

• “Making American Agriculture Productive and 

Profitable (MAAPP): A Vision for 2019,” 

Tennessee Ballroom A, C & E 

• “How to Turn Today’s Members into Active Volunteers,” 

Tennessee Ballroom B 

• “Consumer-Driven Health Care: How to Beat the Pain 

of High Health Care Costs,” Tennessee Ballroom D 

• “Cooking Up Greenbacks: The annual FB Cooking 

Show,” Presidential Ballroom D 

• Exhibitor Seminar: “Animal ID, NAIS and Practical 

Farm Bureau Solutions,” sponsored by Kansas Farm 

Bureau, Ryman Chambers 

Women’s Caucuses (Midwest-Governors’ 

Ballroom D, Northeast-Governors’ Ballroom E, South- 

Governors’ Ballroom C, West-Governors’ Ballroom A) 

11:30 a.m. • Exhibitor Seminar: “Long-Term Care Insurance for 

State Farm Bureaus,” sponsored by Employee 

Benefits Corp. of America, Ryman Chambers 

• AFB Women’s Luncheon, Presidential Ballroom A&B 

(by ticket only) 

• YFR Discussion Meet Round 2, Bayou A-E, Canal A-E 

12:30 p.m. • AFB Women’s Business Session, Presidential Ballroom A&B 

• Exhibitor Seminar: “Leading Tractor Technology from 

John Deere: The 8030 Series Tractors,” sponsored by 

John Deere, Ryman Chambers 

1:15 p.m. • YFR Discussion Meet Sweet 16 Announcement, 

Ryman Exhibit Hall C2 

1:30 p.m. • Issue Conferences: 

• “Crop and Livestock Situation and Outlook for 2006,” 

Presidential Ballroom C&E 

• “Animal Identification: A Good ‘ID’ea?” 

Tennessee Ballroom B 

• “A New Vantage Point on Your Potential,” 

Tennessee Ballroom A, C & E 

YFR Discussion Meet Sweet 16, 

Bayou A&B, Bayou C&D, Canal A&B, Canal C&D 

• Exhibitor Seminar: “Cash In on Customer Demands,” 

sponsored by United Soybean Board, Ryman Chambers 

3 p.m. • General Session featuring President’s Address, 

Distinguished Service Award and YFR Finalists 

Announcements, Delta Ballroom 

Showcase Closes, Ryman Exhibit Hall C2 

8 p.m. • The America’s Heartland Concert and the American 

Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture Ice Cream 

Social (Musical Entertainment by Michael Martin 

Murphey), Tennessee Ballroom (tickets $5 each)

Page 2 Saturday, January 7— Sunday, January 8, 2006 

FLOOR PLANS 

EXHIBIT LEVEL BALLROOM & MEETING ROOM LEVELS

Saturday, January 7— Sunday, January 8, 2006 Page 3 

Welcome, Farm Bureau Members 

Thank you for traveling to Nashville for this, our 87th, 

American Farm Bureau Federation convention and annual 

meeting. 

Not only have you journeyed to get here, but now that we 

are assembled we will journey together on a 

path toward greater prosperity for our industry 

and strength for our organization. 

The theme of this year’s convention, 

“Country Roads & Global Highways,” reflects 

the crossroads we have reached. Rural 

America is still unique in its conservation of 

the values and traditions that make farm country 

such a special place. But rural America is 

more connected to the rest of the world than 

ever. 

Because of the Internet, increased global 

trade and changes in demand for agricultural 

products, we are at a point where we must 

organize, strategize and modernize to not only 

maintain our profitability, but also to take full 

advantage of the new opportunities that will 

come our way. Agriculture and Farm Bureau have always been 

able to adapt to change, and that ability will serve us well in the 

next few years. 

As we do every year, we will discuss and debate the issues 

that affect our industry, and the voting delegates will determine 

Farm Bureau policies to set us on a road to continued success. I 

always look forward to that debate, which is the culmination of 

a policy process that started in living rooms and county Farm 

Bureau offices throughout the country. 

No matter what new challenges and opportunities come 

our way, our grassroots policy development process will remain 

the source of our organization’s strength and vibrancy. It’s the 

reason we can say that our policy reflects the real concerns and 

ideas of individual farmers and ranchers rather than just 

Washington policy wonks. I want to thank everyone who has 

participated in that process this year and helped us reach our 

goal of setting national policy for the year to come. 

And, thanks to Farm Bureau’s continued membership 

growth—now up to more than 5.7 million members—our 

organization will not be a backseat driver. We will be behind the 

wheel, driving the decisions that affect farmers and ranchers. 

This growth puts more fuel in our tank, helping us implement 

Farm Bureau policies. Thanks to everyone who worked to reach 

new membership heights. 

Following on the theme of drafting a roadmap for agriculture, 

one of the highlights of this convention will be the presentation 

of the Making American Agriculture Productive and 

Profitable (MAAPP) committee’s final report. The committee 

members have met and studied our industry for the last two 

years so they could recommend policies to ensure agricultural 

profitability through 2019, when we will celebrate the 100th 

anniversary of the founding of AFBF. We know that we face 

some curves in the road, but at least the 

MAAPP committee has helped to map out 

where they are and how we might want to take 

them. While the committee’s recommendations 

are not official organization policy, I expect 

they will fuel our policy debate for quite some 

time. 

Of course, an equally important part of 

our convention is the fellowship we enjoy. We 

come together at this time every year not only 

to learn about and debate the issues that affect 

agriculture, but also to enjoy the company of 

folks who have traveled roads similar to ours. 

We hear 

about 

changes 

our fellow 

Farm Bureau members have 

made in their farming operations. 

We see photos of their 

children and grandchildren. 

We hear about what’s going 

on in each other’s lives. 

I look forward to 

seeing all of you. And 

I wish you an invigorating 

and enjoyable convention. 

Sincerely, 

Bob Stallman 

President 

American Farm Bureau 

Federation 

Sunday, January 8 

8:30 am 

Delta Ballroom 

‘America’s Heartland’ 

Continued from page 1 

Potential viewership of “America’s Heartland” on PBS 

stations was already more than 51 million households. AFBF 

President Bob Stallman said it’s exciting that, now, even more 

television viewers will see a program that “tells agriculture’s 

story.” 

RFD-TV began airing the show the week of Dec. 26. It 

will run four times a week: Wednesdays at 8 p.m., Thursdays 

at 4 a.m., Saturdays at noon and Sundays at 7 p.m., Eastern. 

RFD-TV is distributed nationwide and carried by DISH 

Network, Mediacom and NCTC cable systems, with additional 

cable systems added regularly. 

AFBF convention attendees can see the program and learn 

more about it at the “America’s Heartland” booth in the 

Showcase, and at the “America’s Heartland” Concert and AFB 

Foundation for Agriculture Ice Cream Social, Sunday at 8 p.m. 

in the Tennessee Ballroom 

of the Gaylord 

Opryland. Tickets to 

the ice cream social 

are $5 each. 

Music artist 

Michael Martin 

Murphey, who wrote 

and sang the 

“America’s 

Heartland” theme 

song, will 

perform at the ice 

cream social. 

The Nashville American 

The Nashville American is the official newspaper of the 

American Farm Bureau Federation’s 87th convention and 

annual meeting, Jan. 8-11, 2006, in Nashville, Tenn. The 

newspaper is published three times: Saturday/Sunday, 

Monday morning and Tuesday morning. 

Published by: American Farm Bureau Federation 

600 Maryland Ave., S.W., Suite 800 

Washington, D.C. 20024 

Phone: 202-406-3600 

Editor: 

Lynne Finnerty, Farm Bureau News editor, AFBF 

Back for a fifth year at 

the AFBF Convention! 

A collection of computers for members to access market updates, agricultural 

news and e-mail. 

Graphics: 

Mary Burns, graphic design director, AFBF 

Jordan Cutler, graphic designer, AFBF 

Come to the Cyber Café to bid on your favorite items at the Silent Auction. 

Photography: Mike Danna, Public Relations director, 

Louisiana Farm Bureau 

Ken Kashian, photographic services director, 

Illinois Farm Bureau 

Writers: 

AFBF Public Relations staff members 

State Farm Bureau Public Relations staff 

members 

Printing/Production: 

Staton Publications, Orlando, Fla. 

The AFBF Newsroom is located in Jackson C&D of the 

Gaylord Opryland conference center. 

Open: 

Located: 

Sunday, January 8, 9:30 am - 3 pm 

Monday, January 9, 9 am - 3 pm 

In Hall B of the Gaylord Opryland Hotel 

Sponsored by: Farm Bureau Bank 

While Visiting the Cyber Café, check out the following links: 

www.farmbureaubank.com 

www.fb.org/programs/2005annual 

www.musiccityusa.org


Conferences Deal with Outlook for Agriculture 

The theme of the 87th American Farm 

Bureau Federation convention and annual 

meeting, Country Roads & Global Highways, 

reflects the feeling that agriculture is at a crossroads 

where new directions will lead to new 

challenges and opportunities. 

Several of this year’s issue conferences 

delve into the outlook for agriculture over the 

next year, as well as over the long term. 

The Making American Agriculture 

Productive and Profitable (MAAPP) committee 

has been studying agriculture and rural issues 

over the last two years. The goal of the committee 

is to recommend a policy direction that 

ensures that agriculture is productive and profitable 

through 2019, when AFBF will celebrate 

the 100th anniversary of its founding. 

At a conference on Sunday, Jan. 8, at 

10:30 a.m., the MAAPP committee members 

will discuss what they have learned over the 

last two years, and talk about how some of the 

information they gathered challenged their previous 

assumptions about agriculture. 

Conventioneers will get a second chance to 

attend the conference when it repeats on 

Monday, Jan. 9, at 9:30 a.m. Both conferences 

will be in the Tennessee Ballroom A, C & E. 

The more immediate outlook will be discussed 

at the “Crop and Livestock Situation 

and Outlook for 2006” conference, at 1:30 

p.m., Sunday, Jan. 8. Three speakers—from 

Informa Economics, Texas A&M University 

and AFBF—will discuss how the cotton industry 

could change if the Step 2 program is eliminated, 

how cattle markets will react to the 

reopening of the Japanese market for U.S. beef 

and how high fuel and fertilizer prices are 

affecting agriculture. The conference takes 

place in Presidential Ballroom C&E. 

During the same timeslot as the Situation 

and Outlook conference is a conference to look 

at the outlook for animal identification. The 

“Animal Identification: A Good ‘ID’ea?” conference 

will be in Tennessee Ballroom B. 

Experts from industry groups will discuss who 

should pay for implementing animal ID, and 

how the information collected through the 

system will be used. 

The conference titled “The WTO 

Agriculture Negotiations: Progress, Outlook 

and Impact on U.S. Agriculture” will deal with 

the agreements reached so far during the 

WTO’s Doha Round of negotiations, and what 

obstacles remain to achieving a final agreement 

to reduce subsidies and tariffs worldwide. 

New Agricultural trade embassador Richard 

Crowder will speak. The conference will be in 

Tennessee Ballroom D at 9:30 a.m., Monday, 

Jan. 9. 

The “Energy and Fertilizer Outlook for 

2006” conference will focus even more closely 

on energy costs. The conference will give you 

access to energy industry experts who will talk 

about what the energy markets will do over the 

next year. The conference will be at 1:30 p.m., 

Monday, Jan. 9, in Tennessee Ballroom D. 

Farmers have to stay attuned to the weather, 

and recent weather catastrophes have 

heightened concerns that the weather is getting 

more severe. The “Property Catastrophes: Is 

The World Changing Around Us?” conference 

will provide a review of recent weather events 

and what to expect in the future. This conference 

also will take place at 1:30 p.m., Monday, 

Jan. 9. It will be in Tennessee Ballroom B. 

Those who enjoy food and cooking might 

want to attend this year’s cooking demonstration 

conference, titled “Cooking Up 

Greenbacks.” This year’s presentation will 

focus on state Farm Bureau cookbooks and 

how they are used to raise money for agricultural 

education. A Gaylord Opryland chef will 

show you how to prepare some of the recipes 

from those cookbooks, and provide plenty of 

samples for the audience. Copies of state Farm 

Bureau cookbooks will be for sale at the event. 

The cooking demo happens at 10:30 a.m., 

Sunday, Jan. 8, in Presidential Ballroom D. 

Those who work with Farm Bureau volunteers 

will enjoy the “How to Turn Today’s 

Members into Active Volunteers” conference. 

The speaker will share strategies for keeping 

volunteers actively involved in Farm Bureau. 

It takes place at 10:30 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 8, in 

Tennessee Ballroom B. 

Knowing that he was a founding member 

and president of the environmental group 

Greenpeace, why would you want to hear from 

Dr. Patrick Moore? Because he is calling for a 

new environmentalism that focuses on scientific 

data and moves away from confrontation. At 

the “Environmentalism and Agriculture in the 

21st Century” conference, Moore will reveal 

the myths and misinformation that distort environmental 

debates. You can hear him speak at 

9:30 a.m., Monday, Jan. 9, in Tennessee 

Ballroom B. 

Other conferences will focus on managing 

health care costs, how to gain knowledge from 

everyday life, how to analyze problems and 

think up creative solutions, and how to work 

with people with diverse personal styles. For a 

complete list of the conferences available this 

year, see your convention program. 

Welcome, 

Young Farmers 

and Ranchers 

I’m honored to welcome 

my fellow young 

farmers and ranchers to 

the 87th annual 

American Farm Bureau 

Federation convention 

and annual meeting. 

This meeting caps 

an exciting year for me. 

It was at the 86th convention 

that I was elected chairman of the 

Young Farmer & Rancher (YFR) Committee, 

and now at this meeting I will turn that title 

over to someone else. 

The experience of chairing this committee, 

serving on the AFBF board of directors 

and voting on AFBF policy is unrivaled in 

terms of learning more about the many issues 

that affect our industry, and how this huge and 

influential organization called Farm Bureau 

develops policy on those issues. I hope that my 

successor will enjoy it as much as I have. 

Thank you for giving me this wonderful opportunity. 

I am well aware of the serious challenges 

we face as young farmers. The high cost of 

land, declining government support and 

increasing government regulations are just a 

few. If we want to stay in this industry and succeed, 

we will have to stick together and work 

together to come up with solutions. Young 

farmers involved in Farm Bureau will need to 

step up to these challenges. 

The YFR Committee has had an exciting 

Continued on page 5


Sunday, Jan. 8 

9:30 – 10:15 “Investing in the Future of Agriculture” 

Sponsored by Monsanto Co. 

Speakers: Kim Magin Sutter and Jennifer 

Garrett of Monsanto 

10:30 – 11:15 “Animal ID, NAIS and Practical Farm 

Bureau Solutions” 

Sponsored by Kansas Farm Bureau 

Speaker: Mark Nelson, KFB commodities 

director 

11:30 – 12:15 “Long-Term Care Insurance for State Farm 

Bureaus” 

Sponsored by Employee Benefits Corp. of 

America (EBCA) 

Speakers: Gary R. Gentrini, EBCA 

executive vice president and general 

manager, and Bob Nardone, EBCA regional 

brokerage manager 

12:30 – 1:15 “Leading Tractor Technology from John 

Deere: The 8030 Series Tractors” 

Sponsored by John Deere 

Speakers: Barry Nelson and Ron Schwertner 

of John Deere 

1:30 – 2:15 “Cash In On Customer Demands” 

Sponsored by United Soybean Board 

Exhibitor Seminars 

Monday, Jan. 9 

9 – 9:45 “Checkoff Investments: Creating Lifelong 

Dairy Consumers” 

Sponsored by Dairy Management Inc. 

(DMI) 

Speaker: Joe Bavido of DMI 

10 – 10:45 “The Beef Checkoff’s Role in the Industry’s 

Proposed Long-Range Plan” 

Sponsored by the Beef Checkoff Program 

Speaker: Monte Reese, chief operating 

officer, Cattlemen’s Beef Board 

11 – 11:45 “Canada-U.S. Agriculture Trade” 

Sponsored by Agriculture & Agri-Food 

Canada 

Speakers: Fred Gorell and Ron Krystynak 

12 – 12:45 “YF&R and Food Banks – How Harvest for 

All Works” 

Sponsored by America’s Second Harvest 

Speaker: Judy Alberg 

1 – 1:45 “Junior Master Horseman – Horsey 

Teaching Tools for Kids” 

Sponsored by American Quarter Horse 

Association (AQHA) 

Speaker: Christy Bramwell, AQHA 

senior manager of youth activities 

County Activities of Excellence – Farmer 

Idea Exchange – Meet the Researchers 

EXHIBITOR BOOTH # 

Boone County Farm Bureau (IN)............................................804 

Chenango County Farm Bureau (NY).....................................929 

Clinton County Farm Bureau (IN) ..........................................905 

DuPage County Farm Bureau (IL) ..........................................911 

Genessee County Farm Bureau (NY)......................................904 

Hillsdale County Farm Bureau (MI) .......................................910 

Jackson-Vinton County Farm Bureau (OH) ............................808 

Jefferson County Farm Bureau (KY) ......................................828 

Kingman County Farm Bureau (KS).......................................816 

Minnehaha County Farm Bureau (SD)....................................916 

Okmulgee County Farm Bureau (OK) ....................................924 

Orange County Farm Bureau (CA) .........................................822 

Osceola County Farm Bureau (FL) .........................................920 

Tulare County Farm Bureau (CA)...........................................923 

Wright County Farm Bureau (MO) .........................................917 

Dale Alvarez, Farmer Idea Exchange......................................922 

Robert Barnett, Farmer Idea Exchange ...................................927 

Lary Bordeaux, Farmer Idea Exchange...................................914 

Walter Bueker, Farmer Idea Exchange....................................903 

Kevin Buckstead, Farmer Idea Exchange ...............................826 

Barbara Crain, Farmer Idea Exchange ....................................814 

Clint Dearden, Farmer Idea Exchange ....................................802 

Welcome 


year. Once again, we have raised donations of food and money 

and donated time to help feed the hungry through the Harvest for 

All initiative. The final numbers aren’t in yet, but we are on 

track to donate more than 2 million pounds of food, $120,000 

and 8,000 volunteer hours over the last year. 

The committee was also challenged this year to help raise 

funds for agriculture’s response to the hurricanes that struck the 

Gulf Coast. We worked with the AFBF Women’s Committee to 

help raise funds for the Farm Bureau Hurricane Ag Fund. In 

addition, young farmers and ranchers stepped up their ongoing 

efforts to raise donations to food banks through Harvest for All. 

This unprecedented fund raising effort fell quickly on the 

heels of the effort to raise funds for victims of the Asian tsunami. 

I thank all of the young farmers who got out there and worked to 

help people thousands of miles away, but close to us in that we 

all understand how devastating a natural disaster can be to a 

farmer’s livelihood. The funds have helped farmers in the tsunami 

area buy new animals, equipment and seeds. 

The year, once again, begins with exciting competitions 

where young farmers and ranchers will test their agricultural 


Greg Ervin, Farmer Idea Exchange .........................................810 

John Gipson, Farmer Idea Exchange.......................................915 

Duane Gress, Farmer Idea Exchange ......................................909 

George Hubka, Farmer Idea Exchange....................................820 

Joe Paul Mattingly, Farmer Idea Exchange.............................921 

Carl Seeliger, Farmer Idea Exchange ......................................902 

Scott Travis, Farmer Idea Exchange........................................926 

Roger Williamson, Farmer Idea Exchange..............................908 

Sandra Bastin, Researcher .......................................................818 

Normie Buehring, Researcher .................................................907 

Peder Cuneo, Researcher.........................................................812 

Jeanne Davis, Researcher ........................................................806 

Conly Hansen, Researcher.......................................................901 

Gerrit Hoogenboom, Researcher .............................................925 

Richard Joost, Researcher........................................................919 

Quirine Ketterings, Researcher................................................800 

Andrew Landers, Researcher...................................................928 

Britt Morris, Researcher ..........................................................913 

John Paterson, Researcher .......................................................900 

Mark Rice, Researcher.............................................................918 

Fritz Roka, Researcher.............................................................906 

Edwin White, Researcher ........................................................912 

knowledge and their leadership achievements against those of 

their fellow YFRs. 

The young farmers and ranchers who will compete in these 

competitions here in Nashville have worked hard to get here. 

They have competed and won at the state level. Now, they will 

go up against the best of the best from around the country. I 

extend my congratulations to all of this year’s competitors. 

The Discussion Meet competition rounds are open to other 

convention attendees. I welcome everyone to come and observe 

the competition and see what our future leaders are made of. I’m 

sure that you will be impressed. 

None of these competitions and awards would be possible 

without our sponsors: Dodge, Case IH, Cummins and Stihl. 

Thank you! With your generous support, there’s an excitement, 

an energy and a magic about these competitions that just wouldn’t 

be there otherwise. That support makes our national competition 

a big deal, and it pushes the competitors to take their game 

to an even higher level. 

I wish everyone a fun time and a productive meeting in 

Nashville. 

Sincerely, 

Ben Boyd 

AFBF Young Farmer & Rancher Chairman 

Showcase Exhibits 


Ag Energy Work Group.................................................232 

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada...............................416, 418 

Agriculture Solutions/Beef Verification Solutions .......610 

Agricultural Marketing Resource Center......................710 

American Farm Bureau Foundation 

for Agriculture.............................................................128, 130, 132 

American Farm Bureau Insurance Services Inc ...........410 

American Farm Bureau Women’s Committee..............134 

American Sugar Alliance...............................................721 

American Quarter Horse Youth Association.................622 

America’s Heartland ......................................................617, 619 

America’s Second Harvest.............................................512 

Amerisight Inc................................................................731 

Ameritas Group Dental and Eyecare ............................733 

AmerLink Log Homes...................................................712 

Arkansas Farm Bureau ..................................................500, 502 

Beltone Electronics ........................................................513 

BioJuvenate Engineered Skin Care...............................728 

Case IH ...........................................................................100 

Cattlemen’s Beef Board.................................................629 

Choice Hotels International ...........................................430 

Creative Benefit Design Inc ..........................................732 

DMD Marketing.............................................................300 

Dodge..............................................................................210 

Double S Liquid Feed Services Inc...............................122 

Dairy Management Inc ..................................................623 

Employee Benefits Corp. of America ...........................516 

Environmental Protection Agency ................................621 

European Union Delegation to the U.S. .......................504, 506 

Farm Bureau Connection/IBFA Acquisition LLC........718, 720, 722 

Farm Bureau Safety and Health Network.....................136 

Farm Safety 4 Just Kids.................................................243 

Farm Service Agency (USDA)......................................229 

Forestandrange.org/University of Tennessee................518 

Fastline Publications ......................................................511 

Florida Agricultural Marketing......................................728 

Fort Dodge Animal Health ............................................120 

Georgia Peanut Commission .........................................110, 112 

Grainger..........................................................................300 

Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative .........................412 

Hawaii Agventures.........................................................531 

Holiday Inn Capitol........................................................517 

The Heartland Institute ..................................................528 

Humana Dental...............................................................730 

Indiana Farm Bureau Inc ...............................................521, 523 

John Deere......................................................................400 

Kentucky Farm Bureau..................................................520, 522 

Making American Agriculture Productive and 

Profitable (MAAPP)...................................................228, 230 

Monsanto Co ..................................................................420, 422 

National Children’s Center for Rural and 

Agricultural Health .....................................................241 

National Council of Agricultural Employers................613 

National Institute for Animal Agriculture .....................510 

Nationwide Document Solutions ..................................428 

Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA) 

Tennessee.....................................................................217 

Oklahoma Farm Bureau.................................................616, 618, 620 

OMNI Brokerage ...........................................................116 

Pet Partners Inc ..............................................................729 

Progressive Agriculture Safety Days ............................239 

Promotion & Education Programs/Michigan Farm Bureau 

.........................................................................................329, 331 

Propane Education and Research Council....................712 

Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau .....................711 

Safe Lites........................................................................611 

Scriptsave........................................................................529 

Shamrock Leathers Inc ..................................................114 

Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education............612 

Tennessee Beef Industry Council..................................631, 633 

Tennessee Farm Bureau.................................................328-342 

(even), 429-443 (odd) 

United Soybean Board...................................................628 

USDA-Cooperative Research, Education & Extension 

Service.........................................................................221 

USDA-National Agricultural Library ...........................223 

USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service............211 

USDA-Pesticide Record Keeping.................................213 

USDA-Rural Development ...........................................215


Ohio Farm Bureau 

CONGRATULATES 

Jackson/Vinton County FB 

Jeff & Dena Wuebker, 

Darke County 

Andrea Myers, 

Mahoning County 

Jason Feldner, Noble County 

NC Farm Bureau 

SALUTES 

YF&R STATE WINNERS 

Achievement - Bo Stone 

Discussion - Trent Uphoff 

Excellence in Ag 

- Luke Beam 


CONGRATULATES 

DISCUSSION MEET 

WINNER 

Rob Sharkey 


CONGRATULATES 

EXCELLENCE 

IN AG AWARD WINNER 

Jeff & Joanie Steirs 


CONGRATULATES 

ACHIEVEMENT 

AWARD WINNER 

Mark & Janeen Peterson 

Iowa Farm Bureau 

CONGRATULATES 

YF&R DISCUSSION 

MEET COMPETITOR 

Russell Meade, 

Johnson County 


SALUTES 

YF&R ACHIEVEMENT 

AWARD COMPETITORS 

Steve and Amy Swenka, 

Johnson County 


RECOGNIZES 

YF&R EXCELLENCE 

IN AG COMPETITOR 

Rebecca Hosek, 

Tama County 

Mississippi Farm Bureau 

CONGRATULATES 

ACHIEVEMENT 

AWARD WINNERS 

John & Julie Ingram 

Mississippi Farm Bureau 

CONGRATULATES 

DISCUSSION MEET 

WINNER 

Chris Wilkinson 

American Farm 

Bureau Federation 

HONORS 

Farm Bureau competitors, volunteers and members 

from every state for making our organization the largest 

and strongest in the nation! 

Welcome to Nashville, 

Farm Bureau Women 

I am pleased to welcome everyone to this 

year’s American Farm Bureau Federation convention 

and annual meeting. For all attendees, 

the convention is a time to 

recharge our excitement 

about our industry, to learn 

about the economic and policy 

changes that will affect us 

and develop strategies to 

make our industry stronger. 

It’s also a time when 

Farm Bureau Women look 

toward the future and debate 

how to make ourselves 

stronger—as women, as 

farmers and as leaders. 

Whether farm women 

have been out in front or 

worked behind the scenes, 

they’ve always been an 

important part of a farm’s ability to produce 

and earn a profit. Now, women are more 

involved in agriculture, and agricultural organizations, 

than ever before. The number of 

women who are principal operators of farms 

and ranches has increased. As women take a 

more active role in their own operations, they 

are also taking on weightier roles within the 

industry as a whole. 

That’s why the AFB Women’s Committee 

envisions a future that is increasingly focused 

on fostering and providing opportunities for 

leadership by farm women. The AFBF board 

of directors last October approved a new program 

of work for the committee. Titled 

“Planting Seeds to Harvest Leaders,” the program 

will give women the skills and confidence 

they need to communicate within the 

industry, to the general public and to elected 

officials. 

Every time I attend a meeting of Farm 

Bureau Women, I am excited to watch as 

women realize what they can do with the leadership 

abilities they have and, perhaps, new 

skills that they pick up through the leadership 

training available through Women’s 

Committees around the country. I am energized 

when I think of the growing potential of 

Farm Bureau women to influence the direction 

of their industry. 

Of course, this new direction still 

includes the many important programs that 

Farm Bureau has come to rely on the Women’s 

Committee to accomplish. Food Check-Out 

Week, ongoing agricultural education work 

10:30 – Regional Caucuses 

11:30 a.m. Midwest – Governors’ 

Ballroom D 

Northeast – Governors’ 

Ballroom E 

South – Governors’ Ballroom C 

West – Governors’ Ballroom A 

11:30 a.m. Women’s Luncheon/Business 

– 1:30 p.m. Session (by ticket only) 

Presidential Ballroom A&B 

and fund raising—these efforts will not only 

continue. They will continue to get better and 

better. 

The convention always 

reminds me of how impressive 

Farm Bureau is as an 

organization. I can’t think of 

any other national organization 

that gives its members 

so much control over its 

direction, or gives them so 

many opportunities to learn 

and do. And I am continually 

impressed by the members 

themselves. They always step 

up to attend the meetings, 

make the lobbying calls and 

visits and take on more leadership 

roles, even when it 

means that the work on the 

farm will have to be done earlier in the morning 

or later at night in order to get it all done. 

The commitment they show to Farm Bureau 

and to agriculture is amazing, and that’s what 

makes Farm Bureau a force to be reckoned 

with. 

And, I have never been more impressed 

with Farm Bureau than I am this year. Farm 

Bureau Women and others around the country 

have helped raise nearly $1 million for agricultural 

victims of the hurricanes that hit the 

Gulf Coast in August and September. I understand 

that number could easily go over the $1 

million mark any day now. And this followed 

an amazing effort by both the Women’s 

Committee and the Young Farmer & Rancher 

Committee to raise nearly $70,000 for the victims 

of the Asian tsunami. 

These efforts show that we are willing to 

work not only for our own interests through 

our lobbying efforts, but also to help others. 

But, more importantly, it will help others get 

back on their feet and, we hope, continue 

farming. 

The achievements of 2005 have been 

momentous, but I remain convinced that the 

AFB Women’s Committee’s most exciting 

days are ahead. I look forward to seeing you, 

and discussing our future. Best wishes for a 

successful convention. 

Sincerely, 

Terry Gilbert 

AFB Women’s Committee Chair 

FB Women’s 

Schedule of Events 

AFB Women’s Headquarters: Governors’ Chamber D 

Sunday, Jan. 8 Monday, Jan. 9 

11:30 a.m. State Women’s Committee Chair 

– 12:30 p.m. Luncheon 

Magnolia Ballroom

JANUARY 

Jan. 8 – 11, 2005 

Thousands of Farm Bureau members convened in Charlotte, N.C., for the 

86th American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting. Highlights included a 

speech by former New York City major Rudolph Giuliani, and AFBF President 

Bob Stallman’s yearly address, in which he called on Congress to live up to the 

commitments in the 2002 farm bill. Farmers are living up to their commitment 

“by providing safe, abundant and affordable food for this country.” In return, he 

said, Congress should let the farm bill run its course. 

Jan. 19, 2005 

AFBF announced the creation of a Farm Bureau tsunami relief fund to help 

subsistence farmers in southeast Asia who were devastated by the tsunami of 

December 2004. About $67,000 was raised for the fund, which helped Asian 

farmers buy replacement livestock, equipment and seeds. 

FEBRUARY 

Feb. 7, 2005 

AFBF once again celebrated national Food Check-Out Day in recognition 

of the day by which Americans, on average, have earned enough income to 

afford their food supply for the whole year. The national event, spearheaded by 

the Farm Bureaus around the country Women’s Committee, draws attention to 

the affordability of food in the U.S. Farm Bureau also made sizable contributions 

to Ronald McDonald House Charities. 

Feb. 10-12, 2005 

Approximately 1,500 Farm Bureau members, leaders and staff attended the 

National Leadership Conference in New Orleans, La. In addition to in-depth 

seminars on agricultural issues, the conference featured speeches by AFBF 

President Bob Stallman, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and former 

Senator John Breaux, who was then co-chairing President Bush’s tax reform 

advisory panel. In addition, several state Farm Bureaus received FBACT 

awards for participation by their volunteers and staff in grassroots lobbying 

efforts, and the 2004 Partners in Agricultural Leadership (PAL) class graduated. 

The PAL program trains young farmers to serve as advocates and spokespersons 

for agriculture. 

MARCH 

March 1, 2005 

AFBF announced that Farm Bureau members around the country had 

raised more than $121,000 and donated nearly 2.5 million pounds of food in 

2004 as part of the Harvest for All initiative. They also donated nearly 5,000 

hours of their time to hunger relief efforts at local food banks, churches, homeless 

shelters and community centers. Harvest for All is a joint effort between 

Farm Bureau and America’s Second Harvest, the nation’s largest network of 

food banks. 

March 2, 2005 

A U.S. appeals court ruled that EPA could not force livestock producers to 

file for pollution discharge permits based merely on a “potential to discharge.” 

AFBF had argued to the court that requiring permits for any potential to discharge 

would be like requiring someone who doesn’t drive to get a driver’s 

license. EPA has been working since then to rewrite its rules for large livestock 

farms. 

March 18, 2005 

The annual Farm Bureau survey of young farmers and ranchers showed 

that their top concerns were land availability and ensuring a larger role for 

renewable fuels in the nation’s energy supply. 

APRIL 

April 21, 2005 

AFBF announced that it would sponsor, along with the Monsanto Co., a 

new weekly public television program celebrating agriculture. The show, titled 

“America’s Heartland,” began airing a few months later, in September. 

MAY 

May 23, 2005 

The Supreme Court ruled that the national beef checkoff was constitutional 

and could continue. AFBF had filed a brief in support of maintaining the checkoff, 

saying that it increases consumer demand, funds research and development 

of improved beef products and helps promote export growth. The ruling also 

set a precedent that will help maintain other industry-funded commodity promotion 

and research programs. 

JUNE 

June 23, 2005 

The Supreme Court ruled in the Kelo v. City of New London case that governments 

could take property from landowners and turn it over to other private 

entities that promise to generate economic development and more tax revenues 

from the property. The ruling fired up the debate over eminent domain, and 

launched national and state efforts to limit the effect of the Kelo ruling. As part 

of that effort, AFBF launched its Stop Taking Our Property or STOP campaign 

to educate lawmakers and the public about the negative impact the ruling could 

have, particularly on owners of farmland. 

JULY 

July 28, 2005 

The House passed the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade 

Agreement (CAFTA), following Senate passage in June. House passage sent 

the bill to the president to be signed into law. AFBF supported CAFTA, saying 

it would increase U.S. agricultural exports by nearly $1.5 billion per year once 

the agreement was fully implemented. 

AUGUST 

Aug. 8, 2005 

The comprehensive energy bill was signed into law, establishing a renewable 

fuels standard that will require the nation’s fuel supply to consist of 7.5 

billion gallons of ethanol and biodiesel by 2012. The bill also extended tax 

credits for energy production from renewable sources such as wind and biomass.

Saturday, January 7 - 


Nashville, TN 

SEPTEMBER 

Sept. 1, 2005 

AFBF launched a nationwide 

agricultural hurricane relief effort 

in response to Hurricane Katrina, 

which struck the Gulf Coast in late 

August. The Farm Bureau 

Hurricane Ag Fund provided a way 

for Americans to assist farm families 

and rural residents specifically, 

and help them get back to the business of agricultural production. To date, the 

fund has grown to nearly $1 million. 

OCTOBER 

Oct. 6, 2005 

AFBF announced that the Farm Bureau-Dodge incentive program was 

renewed for 2006. The program provides a $500 incentive to Farm Bureau 

members who purchase certain Dodge vehicles. Farm Bureau members saved 

more than $25 

million through the program over the last year. Dodge is 

also an important sponsor of Farm Bureau’s 

Young Farmer & Rancher 

programs. 

DECEMBER 

Dec. 8, 2005 

AFBF announced that Farm Bureau had posted another year of membership 

growth, adding more than 94,000 families to its ranks. Farm Bureau 

membership totals 5,712,515 nationwide. AFBF President Bob Stallman said 

the continued growth showed that Farm Bureau responds to the program and 

service needs of its members, and the growth would make Farm Bureau an 

even stronger voice on behalf of American agriculture. 

Dec. 12, 2005 

The Making American Agriculture Productive and Profitable (MAAPP) 

committee released its report of policy recommendations to ensure agriculture 

is productive and profitable through 2019, when AFBF will celebrate its 100th 

anniversary. The release of the report capped a two-year process of the MAAPP 

committee studying numerous factors that affect agriculture today and into 

the future. 

NOVEMBER 

Nov. 3, 2005 

The House passed a bill to withhold federal funds from state and local 

governments that use eminent domain for economic development purposes. 

AFBF supported the bill to limit the impact of the Supreme Court’s Kelo ruling.

Saturday, January 7 - 


Nashville, TN 

SEPTEMBER 

Sept. 1, 2005 

AFBF launched a nationwide 

agricultural hurricane relief effort 

in response to Hurricane Katrina, 

which struck the Gulf Coast in late 

August. The Farm Bureau 

Hurricane Ag Fund provided a way 

for Americans to assist farm families 

and rural residents specifically, 

and help them get back to the business of agricultural production. To date, the 

fund has grown to nearly $1 million. 

OCTOBER 

Oct. 6, 2005 

AFBF announced that the Farm Bureau-Dodge incentive program was 

renewed for 2006. The program provides a $500 incentive to Farm Bureau 

members who purchase certain Dodge vehicles. Farm Bureau members saved 

more than $25 

million through the program over the last year. Dodge is 

also an important sponsor of Farm Bureau’s 

Young Farmer & Rancher 

programs. 

DECEMBER 

Dec. 8, 2005 

AFBF announced that Farm Bureau had posted another year of membership 

growth, adding more than 94,000 families to its ranks. Farm Bureau 

membership totals 5,712,515 nationwide. AFBF President Bob Stallman said 

the continued growth showed that Farm Bureau responds to the program and 

service needs of its members, and the growth would make Farm Bureau an 

even stronger voice on behalf of American agriculture. 

Dec. 12, 2005 

The Making American Agriculture Productive and Profitable (MAAPP) 

committee released its report of policy recommendations to ensure agriculture 

is productive and profitable through 2019, when AFBF will celebrate its 100th 

anniversary. The release of the report capped a two-year process of the MAAPP 

committee studying numerous factors that affect agriculture today and into 

the future. 

NOVEMBER 

Nov. 3, 2005 

The House passed a bill to withhold federal funds from state and local 

governments that use eminent domain for economic development purposes. 

AFBF supported the bill to limit the impact of the Supreme Court’s Kelo ruling.


County Farm Bureaus Demonstrate ‘Excellence’ 

County Farm Bureaus from around the country 

compete each year for the best new program 

idea, and the American Farm Bureau Federation 

recognizes their initiative. Over the last year, that 

recognition program was revamped, with a new 

name and new program categories. 

Renamed the County Activities of Excellence 

competition, the program recognizes county programs 

in five categories: Education & Ag 

Promotion; Leadership Promotion; Member 

Services; Policy Implementation; and Public 

Relations & Information. 

The following are winning county programs 

for 2006. Convention goers can learn more about 

these programs by visiting each county’s display in 

the Showcase. See page 5 for a list of the county 

booths. 

Agriculture Education Expo, DuPage 

County, Ill. – The Agriculture Education Expo is a 

two-day event held at the county fairgrounds. 

Third- and fourth-grade students visit six informal 

classroom settings, where they learn about how 

each ingredient on a pizza has a direct connection 

to agriculture. They also learn about the many 

careers in agriculture, while their teachers pick up 

ideas to use in their classrooms. On average, 1,100 

students, 43 teachers and 25 parents participate in 

the expo every year. Since it began 12 years ago, 

132,000 students, 516 teachers and 300 parents 

have participated in the event. Several students 

who have attended the program have gone on to 

pursue careers or fields of study in agriculture. 

(Education & Ag Promotion) 

Ag Tour for City and County Planning 

Department & News Media, Tulare County, 

Calif. – Tulare County Farm Bureau hosted an 

agricultural tour for city and county planning 

departments, planning consultants and media to 

educate decision makers about the issues agriculture 

faces, particularly in light of urban growth in 

the county. Tulare County is the No. 1 dairy producing 

county in the nation. However, that status 

is threatened by the loss of productive farmland to 

urban development. The tour educated planners 

and the news media about the importance of maintaining 

the county’s top industry: agriculture. The 

program also aimed to have county planners look 

at Farm Bureau members as resources who could 

answer their questions about agriculture and help 

them make better decisions. (Public Relations & 

Information) 

Creating High Visibility, Chenango 

County, N.Y. – The Chenango County Farm 

Bureau began the “Creating High Visibility” program 

to select a high visibility location for a new 

county Farm Bureau office, increase public awareness 

of and participation in Farm Bureau programs 

and bring in new members. Hundreds of people 

attended the grand opening of the new office. In 

addition, a guest book and forum page was added 

to the county Farm Bureau’s Web site. The focus 

of the program was bringing both new and old 

technology together to make the county Farm 

Bureau more visible. Now, instead of hearing, 

“Where are you located?” county Farm Bureau 

officials hear, “Oh, yours is the office with the big 

‘Farms Keep NY Growing’ signs on the building. 

We love them!” (Public Relations & Information) 

Driver Safety Campaign, Hillsdale 

County, Mich. – The Driver Safety Campaign 

was created to implement a local resolution “to 

promote the use of and the education about SMV 

(Slow Moving Vehicle) signs” and reduce vehiclefarm 

machinery accidents. The county Farm 

Bureau provided a video, “In the Blink of an Eye,” 

to all driver education programs in the county, 

designed and built a portable billboard to remind 

drivers to watch for slow-moving farm machinery 

and designed educational slides to be shown 

before feature films at the movie theater in the 

county. It’s estimated that 50,000 people have 

viewed the movie slides, and thousands more have 

seen the moving billboard. The project has 

increased visibility for Farm Bureau and promoted 

safety on the roads. (Policy Implementation) 

Farm Bureau Week Kickoff, Okmulgee 

County, Okla. – Through the designation of 

“Farm Bureau Week,” this program was aimed at 

increasing exposure to Farm Bureau. Media coverage 

of the proclamation signing and “Bread Day,” 

in which the Women’s Committee distributed fresh 

cinnamon rolls to county officials and staff, the 

public became more aware of Farm Bureau and 

what it does. Other components of the program 

included an open house, a donation presented to 

the city fire department for a fire safety in schools 

program, and the grand opening of a new satellite 

office. The open house and grand opening were 

attended by city, county and state government officials. 

(Public Relations & Information) 

Farm Bureau’s Town and Country Show, 

Minnehaha County, S.D. – Minnehaha County 

Farm Bureau has created a one-hour radio talk 

show focusing on how agriculture affects all consumers. 

Each show deals with one topic and features 

one or more guests who are knowledgeable 

about it. Callers are able to ask questions of the 

hosts and guests. Farm Bureau policy and programs 

are woven into the discussions. Not only 

has listener feedback been positive, but the show 

has also helped forge stronger connections with 

guests and the groups they represent. (Education & 

Ag Promotion) 

Farming the Courthouse, Clinton County, 

Ind. – Agriculture is an important economic 

engine in many Indiana counties. The state government 

has identified livestock agriculture, in particular, 

as a growth sector in the state’s economic 

renewal. This event presented county government 

officials with facts about how livestock industry 

expansion benefits the county’s economy, and 

helped dispel myths about the livestock industry. 

The county Farm Bureau president presented the 

results of a survey that showed that residents have 

confidence in the livestock industry and favor the 

industry’s growth in the county. (Education & Ag 

Promotion) 

Hog Wild, Jackson-Vinton Counties, Ohio 

– The Hog Wild program was originally intended 

to raise money for the county Youth and 

Scholarship programs. It turned out to also be a 

way to promote awareness of the Jackson-Vinton 

County Farm Bureaus and their activities. Local 

businesses purchased oversized “piggy banks,” 

which they painted and displayed. Residents then 

voted for “Top Hog,” depending on which piggy 

bank was decorated the best. “Piggy Page” advertising 

created support for all of the local pigs and 

provided a way for residents to see and compare 

them. The Hog Wild event raised $5,500 to support 

the Youth and Scholarship programs in the 

local community. The contest was tied in to a local 

festival and created buzz in the community. The 

state Farm Bureau, seeing the success of the event, 

has now created a statewide “Porks of Art” contest. 

(Public Relations & Information) 

Osceola Farm-City Days, Osceola County, 

Fla. – Osceola Farm-City Days is a popular twoday 

event to educate the public about agriculture. 

It includes farm tours for government leaders and 

the general public. Also, schoolchildren visit various 

stations to learn about different aspects of agriculture. 

The kids juice oranges, plant flowers and 

participate in other hands-on projects. The event 

takes place during national Farm-City Week, and 

has won recognition from the National Farm-City 

Council and the Institute of Food and Agricultural 

Sciences. Teachers bring their classes back year 

after year. With a single event, the program successfully 

targets different audiences: government 

officials, children, teachers and the general public. 


Partners in Membership and Partners in 

Growth, Wright County, Mo. – Wright County 

Farm Bureau teamed up with a local Dodge dealer, 

Wehr Dodge, and held Farm Bureau Day to pro- 

mote Farm Bureau membership benefits, including 

the Dodge rebate program. The all-day event 

included a petting zoo, donkey rides and prize 

giveaways. Farm machinery and equipment were 

on display. The Dodge dealer provided hot dogs 

and hamburgers, the county provided drinks and a 

local dairy provided ice cream. The county Farm 

Bureau was able to sign up several new members, 

based on the membership services and benefits 

they learned about. (Member Services) 

The Field of Greens, Orange County, 

Calif. – Picture an empty lot filled with weeds. 

Envision farmers and community leaders concerned 

about nutrition and hunger problems in 

Orange County. Now, add Orange County Farm 

Bureau volunteers, the Second Harvest food bank 

and the Orange County Register newspaper. What 

you get is a dream come true: “The Field of 

Greens.” It’s a three-acre farm that was created to 

produce year-round fresh fruits and vegetables for 

distribution to people who need food assistance. 

The Orange County Farm Bureau donated time 

and materials to prepare the vacant lot for planting. 

Students from local schools and clubs grew 

seedlings and transplanted them into the garden. 

Second Harvest volunteers maintained, harvested 

and distributed the produce. The project has 

allowed members of an urban county to get in 

touch with their agrarian roots while helping to 

alleviate hunger. (Education & Ag Promotion) 

The Green Ribbon Safety Campaign, 

Boone County, Ind. – The Green Ribbon Safety 

Campaign began as a result of an accident in 

which a young farmer was killed. Three women in 

the county decided that greater awareness of farm 

implements on public roads was needed. They 

came up with the idea of handing out green magnetic 

ribbons with the slogan “Be Patient & Kind: 

Stay Behind.” The sister-in-law of the young 

farmer who lost his life came up with the slogan. 

The program also funds a scholarship in the name 

TENNESSEE: A national leader in 

horses, hardwood, music and more 

In addition to its 569,000-plus residents, 

Nashville is also home to perhaps the most 

well-known entity in Tennessee, the Grand Ole 

Opry. The Grand Ole Opry was established as 

and remains a live weekly Saturday night 

radio program featuring veteran and up-andcoming 

country music singers and musicians. 

Having been broadcast on WSM radio since 

Nov. 28, 1925, the Grand Ole Opry is the oldest 

continuous radio program in the United 

States. 

The popularity and longevity of the 

Grand Ole Opry made Nashville a destination 

city for budding country music singers, earning 

Nashville the nickname “Music City, 

USA.” Many, if not most, of the inductees to 

the Country Music Hall of Fame, also located 

in Nashville, performed on the Grand Ole 

Opry stage. 

While the Grand Ole Opry began exclusively 

as a radio program, current generations 

are more familiar with the Grand Ole Opry television 

broadcast, or if they’re lucky, the live 

weekly show at the Grand Ole Opry House, 

which became the home of the Opry in 1974. 

Although the Opry was broadcast from 

numerous venues as its popularity grew in the 

decades following its debut, its most famous 

venue prior to the Opry House was Ryman 

Auditorium, which hosted the Opry for three 

decades beginning in 1943. Tennessean Elvis 

Presley, among many others, made his Grand 

Ole Opry debut at the Ryman, which remains 

an active concert venue and destination for 

music lovers. 

The Grand Ole Opry House is not the 

only famous “house” within Nashville’s city 

of the young farmer for one FFA member each 

year. Several local businesses have gotten 

involved. To date, some 10,000 ribbons are floating 

across Indiana, raising awareness of the need to 

slow down and stay behind slow-moving farm 

implements. (Education & Ag Promotion) 

The National Federation of the Blind 

Convention, Jefferson County, Ky. – The 

National Federation of the Blind Convention took 

place in Louisville, Ky., in July 2005. One objective 

of the convention is to expose blind children to 

new and wonderful experiences. The Jefferson 

County Farm Bureau participated by setting up a 

variety of stations with traditional and non-traditional 

livestock, such as goats, chickens and ducklings, 

and unique plants. By letting the children use 

their hands and sense of smell, they were able to 

experience agriculture even if they couldn’t see it. 

The children were educated about the role that 

agriculture plays in our communities, and they 

were encouraged to participate in 4-H and FFA. 

They all walked away with a smile, and nothing 

reflects a positive result better than a happy child. 


The SMART Center Mobile Unit, Genesee 

County, N.Y. – The Mobile Unit is a 24-foot 

enclosed van that has been converted from an auxiliary 

classroom to an agricultural teaching tool at 

farmers’ markets, fairs, festivals and other community 

events. A canvas of designs both outside and 

inside the unit portrays agriculture in the county. 

The unit rolls into events and captures the curiosity 

of the crowd. The original target audience was 

school-aged children; however, teachers, parents 

and volunteers have all become better informed as 

a result of experiencing the hands-on activities. 

Young children are asking where the unit will be 

next, so they can ask their parents to take them to 

the next event so they can “play some more.” 


limits. It was in the Maxwell House Hotel in 

the early 1890s that the coffee blend we now 

know as Maxwell House was first served. 

The blend was created by Nashville coffee 

wholesaler Joel Owsley Cheek. In 1892 he 

convinced the manager of the Maxwell House 

Hotel to serve the new blend to the guests. It 

was well received and the hotel allowed Cheek 

to use the Maxwell House name. 

In addition to coffee perfectionists, 

Nashville also boasts doctors and lawmakers. 

One of the most well-known Nashville natives 

is both. Current Senate Majority Leader Bill 

Frist (R), who is also a surgeon, was born in 

the city. 

Another U.S. senator from Nashville rose 

to even loftier heights. President Andrew 

Jackson (1829-1837) was born in North 

Carolina but made his home, both before and 

after serving as president, in Nashville. 

Jackson’s estate is called The Hermitage and is 

open to visitors. 

Country music stars, Maxwell House coffee 

and politicians are not Tennessee’s only 

exports. With half of the state’s land—nearly 

12 million acres—in farmland, the Volunteer 

State’s farmers are among the top exporters of 

cotton, soybeans, wheat and tobacco. Its top 

five commodities are cattle, broilers, soybeans, 

greenhouse and nursery products and cotton. 

In addition, Tennessee is third in the 

nation in the total number of horses. Texas and 

California may have more horses, but only 

Tennessee has a breed as a namesake, the 

Tennessee Walking Horse. 

Tennessee’s timber industry is also an 

Continued on page 14


Thanks to Hurricane Fund Donors for Helping Fellow Farmers 

Farm Bureau wishes to 

thank the following 

people and organizations 

who contributed to the 

Farm Bureau Hurricane 

Ag Fund. Your generosity 

will help the victims with 

agricultural losses recover 

from Hurricanes Katrina, 

Rita and Wilma, and is 

greatly appreciated. 

Alabama 

ALFA Mutual Insurance Co. 

Autauga County Farmers Federation 

Baldwin County Farmers Federation 

Barbour County Farmers Federation 

Blount County Farmers Federation 

Bullock County Farmers Federation 

Calhoun County Farmers Federation 

Cherokee County Farmers 

Federation 

Chilton County Farmers Federation 

Clay County Farmers Federation 

Cleburne County Farmers 

Federation 

Coffee County Farmers Federation 

Colbert County Farmers Federation 

Conecuh County Farmers 

Federation 

Covington County Farmers 

Federation 

Crenshaw County Farmers 

Federation 

Douglas Wigginton 

Escambia County Farmers 

Federation 

Hal Lee 

Hale County Farmers Federation 

Houston County Farmers Federation 

Lamar County Farmers Federation 

Madison County Farmers Federation 

Marengo County Farmers 

Federation 

Marshall County Farmers 

Federation 

Montgomery County Farmers 

Federation 

Morgan County Farmers Federation 

Perry County Farmers Federation 

Pickens County Farmers Federation 

Randolph County Farmers 

Federation 

St. Clair County Farmers Federation 

Sumter County Farmers Federation 

Talladega County Farmers 

Federation 

Tallapoosa County Farmers 

Federation 

Tuscaloosa County Farmers 

Federation 

Walker County Farmers Federation 

Washington County Farmers 

Federation 

Wilcox County Farmers Federation 

Winston County Farmers Federation 

Arkansas 

Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation 

E.F. & L.M. Welch 

Eva Lee King 

Garrett Brummer 

Independence County Farm Bureau 

Jack Matthews 

Jacqueline Miller 

Michael Solomon 

Nina Sue Low 

Poinsett County Farm Bureau 

Robert Mathews 

Stanley Reed Farm 

Washington County Farm Bureau 

Woodruff County EHC Council 

Woodruff County Farm Bureau 

Federation 

Arizona 

A-Tumbling-T Ranches 

Farm Bureau Financial 

Marilyn Rayburn 

Richard & Sharon Saylor 

California 

Connie Hanks 

Harter Farms 

Larry Woody 

Margaret Rodriguez 

N.H. Dengler 

Pauline Togliatti 

R.D. & C.J. Ketchpel 

San Luis Obispo County Farm 

Bureau 

Colorado 

Angela & Charles Ryden 

BCU-Middleboro 

Colorado Farm Bureau Mutual 

Insurance 

Darwin D. Wille 

Connecticut 

Alyce & Burton Block 

Paul Levin 

Delaware 

Delaware State Farm Bureau 

Kent County Farm Bureau Inc. 

Winkler Farms 

Woodside Farm Inc. 

Florida 

Debra Baxley 

Edward Albanesi 

Erika Mueller 

Ernest Houck 

Robert Rounsevell 

Witter Harvesting Inc. 

Georgia 

Charles Ewing 

Emmette Vinson 

George Reeves 

Jennifer Whittaker 

Midge Walker 

Wildlife Farms 

Hawaii 

Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation 

Iowa 

Albert Smith 

Andrew Hora 

Aurel Henry 

Berniece Wallace 

Clifford Sams 

Darrell Koehler 

Dean & Natalie Kleckner 

Dubuque County Farm Bureau 

Earl Jones 

Gerald Snethen 

Ida County Farm Bureau 

Iowa Farm Bureau Federation 

Isaac Nolt 

Jack Bornholdt Revocable Trust 

Kathleen Van Donselaar 

Leanne Cline 

Linda Meyer 

Lloyd Casteel 

Loren Kruse 

Marian Mohr 

Marlys Berry 

Meredith Corp. 

Mitchell County Farm Bureau 

Richard Huber 

Richard Kittelson 

Virginia L. Sage 

William Ball 

Idaho 

Caribou County Farm Bureau 

Cassia County Farm Bureau Inc. 

Dave Veselka 

Dean Schwendiman & Sons Inc. 

Franklin County Farm Bureau 

Idaho County Farm Bureau 

Idaho Farm Bureau Federation 

Jerome County Farm Bureau 

Latah County Farm Bureau 

Ray Poe 

Twin Falls County Farm Bureau 

Illinois 

Adeline Geo-Karis 

Alan Conro 

Alice Hampton 

Allan Levine 

Alma Whitsitt 

Amy & Adam Konwal 

Ann Breitbarth 

Arla Severson 

Barbara Gay 

Bartley Farms 

Berta Rohrer 

Betty Fewell 

Betty Peddicord 

Beverly Cecil 

Bonnie Carter 

Cargill Inc. 

Carol and Ken Kashian 

Carolyn Deblieck 

Carroll County Farm Bureau 

Cecelia Reschke 

Charlene Rockenbach 

Charles Federman 

Charles Stickman Jr. 

Concetta Rizzo 

Cook County Farm Bureau 

County Line Sod Busters 

Craig Long 

Crete Lefevre 

Darlene Goelkel 

Darlene Gummersheimer 

David Lattan 

Donald Tekampe 

Doris Mosbacher 

Douglas County Farm Bureau 

Douglas Garwood 

Douglas Yoder 

DuPage County Farm Bureau 

Edgar County Farm Bureau 

Ellen Culver 

Esther Gummersheimer 

Evelyn Richards 

Florence Pedersen 

Frances Briney 

Fred Krueger 

Gardner Farm 

Gene Luthy 

George Cramer 

Greene County Farm Bureau 

Gregory Koeppen 

Guy Vallett 

Illinois Tool Works Foundation 

Jackie Foster 

James Aldeman 

James Raupp 

Janet Katz 

Janet Stoll 

Jean Lawrence 

Jeanne Hurley 

Jerry Hills 

Jersey County Farm Bureau 

John Anderko 

Judith Knicely 

Judith Shore 

Karen Beelow 

Kathleen & Donald Lindstedt 

Kenneth Barclay 

Kenneth Rohrer 

Kevin Shan 

Lake County Fair Association 

Lake County Farm Bureau 

Lakefield Farm 

Larry Anderson 

LaSalle County Farm Bureau 

Laura Race 

Linda Bentlage 

Lois Dietrich 

Lynn Bowman 

Lynn Doolittle 

Macon County Lady Landowners 

Malgorzata Timberg 

Marcia Morgan 

Marilyn Parker 

Mark Oglesby 

Mary Groh 

Mary Lou Flenniken 

Melanie Hall 

Mercer County Farm Bureau 

Milton Miller 

Nicholas Schaub 

Nina Casteel 

North Star Ice Cream Specialties 

Inc. 

Northern Illinois Steam Power Club 

Patrick Flanigan 

Patti McCaw 

Peoria County Farm Bureau 

Phillip & Sue Simpson 

Phyllis Waite 

Prairie Farms 

Quality Plus Seed Co. 

Rebecca Vanderveen 

Richard Armstrong 

Richard Williams 

Robert Blair 

Robert Mehring 

Roger Capps 

Roger Dickson 

Ross Pauli 

Ruth Klussendorf 

Sandra & John Bednarik 

Sharon Stickman 

Shelby County Farm Bureau 

Sherry Moore 

Steven Stahl 

Susan Cawood 

Susan Rutan 

T.J. Shambaugh 

Tazewell County Farm Bureau 

Tim Weesner 

Timothy Phelps 

Virgil & Jane Applequist 

Warren-Henderson Farm Bureau 

Wayne County Farm Bureau 

Wilbert Knop 

Woodland Acres Jersey Farm 

Indiana 

Barbara Foland 

Barbara Jean Ford 

Brown County Farm Bureau Inc. 

Burton Wallace 

C.E. Devore 

Cass County Farm Bureau 

Florence Yoder 

Hamilton County Farm Bureau 

Howard County Farm Bureau 

Indiana Farm Bureau Inc. 

Jackson County Farm Bureau Inc. 

James Harsh 

Joe Carithers 

Joseph E. Kinnard 

Karmen Zupancic 

Kent Yeager 

Korona Farms 

Lottie Roberts Elliott 

Madonna Mathies 

Mary Elisabeth Keller 

Mary Goings 

Melissa Swan 

Patricia Rutan 

Robert Caldwell 

Ronald Reed 

St. Joseph County Farm Bureau 

Vanberburgh County Farm Bureau 

Vera Rusk 

William F. Marvel 

William Richardson 

Kansas 

Atchison County Farm Bureau 

Association 

Bernita Kinsler 

Brown County Farm Bureau 

Association 

Carole Spohn 

Carolyn McKain 

Carolyn Michael 

Century Farms Inc. 

Charlene Bierly 

Clay County Farm Bureau 

Comanche County Farm Bureau 

Association 

Crawford County Farm Bureau 

Debbie Hargrave 

Doniphan County Farm Bureau 

Association 

Donna Simpson 

Douglas County Farm Bureau 

Association 

Elizabeth Heder 

Gwen Johnson 

H&D Trust 

Harper County Farm Bureau 

Harvey County Farm Bureau 

Helen & Thomas Norris 

High Plains Publishers 

James Congrove 

Johnson County Farm Bureau 

Association 

Kansas Association of Conservation 

Districts 

Kansas Farm Bureau 

Kari Neis 

Ken Flagler 

Kenneth Molzahn 

Labette County Farm Bureau 

Association 

Leavenworth County Farm Bureau 

Association 

Lee Moege 

Leslie & Lola Droge 

Lyon County Farm Bureau 

Association 

Marjory Scheufler 

Martha Rose 

Mary Kohls 

Miami County Farm Bureau 

Association 

Montgomery County Farm Bureau 

Association 

Norman A. Schill 

Pratt County Farm Bureau 

Association 

Preston Beeman 

Reno County Farm Bureau 

Association 

Rice County Farm Bureau 

Association 

Robert Harden 

Ruth Walz 

Sam Eash 

Sharon Beeman 

Shawnee County Farm Bureau 

Steve & Patricia Baccus 

Verna M. Trost 

Virginia Schrader Trust 

William Norman Jr. 

Wyandotte County Farm Bureau 

Kentucky 

Adair County Farm Bureau 

Allen County Farm Bureau 

Baker Farms Inc. 

Ballard County Farm Bureau 

Barbara Whitaker 

Bath County Farm Bureau 

Bell County Farm Bureau 

Boone County Farm Bureau 

Boyle County Farm Bureau 

Breathitt County Farm Bureau 

Calloway County Farm Bureau 

Campbell County Farm Bureau 

Cedar Ridge Farm 

Charles Osborne 

Charles Woodford 

Crittenden County Farm Bureau 

Crowe Farms 

Cumberland County Farm Bureau 

Inc. 

David Lyle 

Doris Hamilton 

Fayette County Farm Bureau 

Floyd Greene Insurance 

Frances Begley 

Fulton County Farm Bureau 

Hardin County Farm Bureau 

Hopkins County Farm Bureau 

Jefferson County Farm Bureau 

Jo Ann Holloway 

Johnson County Farm Bureau 

Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation 

Kentucky Farm Bureau Mutual 

Insurance 

Lincoln County Farm Bureau 

Magoffin County Farm Bureau 

Martin County Farm Bureau 

Mary Bryant 

Mercer County Farm Bureau 

Federation 

Micah Lester 

Michael Crane Insurance 

Nelson County Farm Bureau 

Ohio County Farm Bureau 

Oldham County Farm Bureau 

Pamela Phillips 

Perry County Farm Bureau 

Pulaski County Farm Bureau 

Richard Blain 

Robert Porter Insurance 

Russell County Farm Bureau 

T. Haven Miller 

Terry & Bennie Gilbert 

Tommy Reynolds 

Victor Rexroat 

Webster County Farm Bureau 

Whitley County Farm Bureau 

Wilson’s Fur & Ginseng 

Wolfe County Farm Bureau 

Massachusetts 

Alex Dowse 

Alfred McKinstry 

Alice Owen 

Amelia Sirum 

Anne Barnes 

Anne Marie Walker 

Ashley Holmes 

Barbara Richmond 

Berkshire County Farm Bureau 

Bettina Bemis 

Beverly Westerveld 

Bruce Quevillon 

Carol Taylor 

Caroline Chadwick 

Caroline Green 

Caroline McKellar 

Caroline Wiejek 

Catherine Green 

Cathryn Chadwick 

Cavicchio Greenhouses Inc. 

Christina Eckelkamp 

Cistercian Nuns of the Strict 

David Johnson 

Dawn Steim 

Donald Amadon 

Donald Haitsma 

Donald Snow Jr. 

Dorothy Seidel 

Dowse Orchards 

E. Irene Congdon 

Eligio Forgetta 

Ernest Galliford 

Essex Agricultural Society 

Farmers Live Animal Market 

Exchange Inc. 

Francis Phillips 

Frank Schulz 

Frank White 

Furnace Brook Farm 

George Hunt 

George Simonian Jr. 

Gladys Chase 

Harold Newton 

Henry Sambel 

Hersee Excavating 

Honey Pot Hill Orchards 

Ioka Valley Farm LLC 

J.F. Nugent 

Jacqueline Vital 

James & Philip Hoffman 

James Dunn 

Jane Scott 

Janet Hanelt 

Janet Knowlton 

June Johnson 

Katherine Payne 

Kenneth Avery 

K.L. Nickerson 

Landscapes by Earthcare Inc. 

Laura Rossbach 

Laurie Chaplin 

Leda Drouin 

Linda Edelman 

Linda Osburn 

Linda Varney 

Liolia Schipper 

Luand Farm 

Marini Farms 

Martha Flint 

McNamara Farms Inc. 

Middlesex County Farm Bureau 

Mill Iron Farm 

Morning Glory Farm 

Myron Ingham 

New Beginnings Farm 

Newland Farm Inc. 

Norman Loftus 

Oliver Scott 

Orrin Mason Jr. 

Patricia Galliford 

Patricia Yagmin 

Pauline Boisseau 

Peter Schriber 

Peter Yapp 

Plymouth County Farm Bureau 

Powers Farm 

Reed Brothers Farms 

Richard Rossetti 

Robert Alberghini 

Robert Daniels 

Robert Goodman 

Robert Schiavi 

Robin Shively 

Rogers Spring Hill Farm Inc. 

Rotondo Farm 

Ruth Houlden 

Ruthann Lenihan 

Shirley Esty 

Simmons Farm & Greenhouse 

Skipper Manter 

Snohomish County Dairywomen 

Specialty-Apple Mail Orders 

Superior Landscape Inc. 

Susan Kirby 

Susan Price 

Sweetened Water Association Inc. 

Terrance Pimental 

The Beulah Land Maintainers 

The Strain Family Equestrian Center 

Virginia Crafts 

Wayne Smith 

William Doe 

Wilma Foley 

Maryland 

Anne Arundel County Farm Bureau 

Anne Arundel County Young 

Farmers 

Bill & Marsha Purcell 

Calvert County Farm Bureau 

Charles County Farm Bureau 

Don Lipton 

Emma Schramm II 

Frederick County Farm Bureau 

Jane Shifler 

Jean & John Bennis 

Karen Small 

Maryland Farm Bureau Inc. 


Inc. 

Robin & Earl Hance 

Sue Anderson 

Terry Francl 

Theo & Helen Pizanias 

Todd Greenstone 

Vincent Berg 

Wicomico County Farm Bureau Inc. 

Wicomico County Young Farmers 

Massachusetts 

Massachusetts Farm Bureau 

Federation Inc. 

Michigan 

Abigail King 

Amanda Fitz 

Amber Snater 

Amy Peters 

Amy Pline 

Andrea Thorne 

Andrew Bean 

Angela Laidlaw 

Angela Mills 

Angela Rademacher 

Ann Spitzley 

Ardith Miller 

Arthur Kelley 

Beth Goodman 

Beth Hirschi 

Beth Matthews 

Bette Chapman 

Betty Schaible 

Beverly Gross 

Beverly Kosloski 

Beverly Loszewski 

Bonnie Bowen 

Bonnie Vice 

Bosserd Family Farms 

Bradley Nowak-Baker 

Brandon Worrall 

Brandy Johnson 

Brenda Hettinger 

Brent Rankin 

Brian Songer 

Cal Timmer 

Calhoun County Farm Bureau 

Carol Emery 

Carmen Manns 

Caroline Marsh 

Carolyn McNamara 

Cass County Farm Bureau 

Catherine Elliott 

Catherine Knudson 

Catherine Lovejoy 

Catherine Rowell 

Cathleen Meska 

Cathy Butkovich 

Charleen McGaffey 

Charles Biewer 

Cheri Barnhart 

Cheri Buehler 

Cheri Friar 

Chris Girard 

Christie Russell 

Colleen Dyer 

Colleen Hoppes 

Connie Hengesbach 

Corrine McMillon 

Cristal Anderson 

Crystal Van Antwerp 

Cynthia Barton-Spencer 

Cynthia Brogan 

Cynthia Kluger 

Cynthia Terwilliger 

Daniel Briggs 

Daniel O’Shea 

Darlene Hardy 

Darline Walker 

Dave Rowe 

David Baker 

David Johnson 

David McBride 

David Vanderhaagen 

Dawn Dent 

Dawn Elzinga 

Debbie Williams 

Deborah Andrews 

Deborah Ezop 

Deborah Schmidt 

Debra Brandsen 

Debra Dennis 

Debra Tarkowski 

Deb’s Cleaning 

Denise Risdon 

Dennie Olson 

Dennis Roy 

Diane Franz 

Dolores Sonday 

Donald Walker 

Donna Osgood 

Dorothy Gimmey 

Doug Bordas 

Douglas Atkinson 

Douglas Kammann 

Edward Waltz 

Elaine Detrich-Long 

Elizabeth Stucko 

Elizabeth Tuma 

Erica Breaugh 

Erin Bancroft 

Farm Bureau EAA 

Farm Bureau Insurance 

Frieda Strobel 

Gail Kendall 

Gail Rochon 

Gary Weber 

Gerald Perkins 

Gladwin County Farm Bureau 

Glen Hoeppner 

Glenda Rossell 

Gloria Westveld 

Gordon Lange 

Greg Finch 

Gregory Fleet 

Gregory Waldie 

Heidi Mender 

Holly & Matthew Smego 

Huron County Farm Bureau 

Ida White 

Jack Walker Insurance Agency 

Jackie Kebler 

James Camp 

James Robinson 

James Vedder 

Jamie Deller 

Jamie Miller 

Jamie Vervaras 

Jane Fedewa 

Jane Ignash 

Janice Wieber 

Janine Henrizi 

Janna Kraici 

Jason Powell 

Jean White 

Jeanne Stewart 

Jeannine Jewell 

Jeffrey Boog 

Jeffrey Shields 

Jenna Schrot 

Jennifer Botek 

Jennifer Lembright 

Jennifer Miller 

Jennifer Rusnock 

Jill Corrin 

Jill Rigoulot 

Jim Abplanalp 

Joanne Gooewin 

Joe Blanchard 

Joey Blanchard 

John Goodrich 

John Kran 

John Leary 

John Mowery II 

John Queen 

John Vanasperen 

John Wilkins 

Johnson Trust 

Joseph Marble 

Joshua Hewitt 

Joshua Murgittroyd 

Joyce Peetz 

Judy Hyde 

Judy Kuebler 

Julie Ciesluk 

Justin Lowell 

Kari Milbourne 

Kartes Insurance Services 

Katherine Martin 

Kathie Lumbert 

Kathleen Bystry 

Kathryn Boltz 

Kathryn Ludington 

Kathryn Noel 

Kathryn Sutton 

Kathy Nugent 

Keith De Zwaan 

Kelley Babbitt 

Kelly Minaya 

Kendra Snater 

Kenneth Pangborn 

Kent County Farm Bureau 

Korie Spritzley 

Kristi Kirkpatrick 

Kurt Simon 

Kwanyong Uh 

Labeau Agency 

LAFCU 

Landheer Insurance Agency 

Larry Cool 

Larry Vannorman 

Larry Webb Agency 

Laura Smith 

Lauren Jackson 

Lauren Ward 

Laurie George 

Leann Hengesbach 

Lee Goodrich 

Leigh Carey


Lenoe Pichler 

Leslie Davenport 

Linda Huson 

Linda Meyer 

Linda Thelen 

Lindsey Davis 

Lisa Davis 

Lisa Fedewa 

Lisa Johnson 

Lisa Keusch 

Lisa Lee 

Lisa Pruden 

Lisa Starr 

Lisa Wakeman 

Livingston County Farm Bureau 

Lori Blumer 

Lori Chamberlain 

Lou Ann Michael 

Louise McCreery 

M. Boog 

M. Loren Carlisle Agency 

Macomb County Farm Bureau 

Marcia Merando 

Margaret Trayler 

Marianne Lull 

Marie Holdwick 

Marilyn Horton 

Marilyn Miller 

Marion Ashbay 

Marion Stephens 

Mark Darling 

Mark Hop 

Mark Lange 

Mark Patterson 

Mark Wright 

Marvin Schwab Insurance 

Mary Hohlstein 

Mary Hoppes 

Mary Miller 

Mary Sue Branstetter 

Mary Yang 

Mary Ziegler 

Mashon Hoppes 

Matthew Moran 

Matthew Scramlin 

Megan Wheaton 

Melanie Baker 

Melanie Conran 

Melinda Pung 

Melissa Crandall 

Michael Knickerbocker 

Michael Longstreet 

Michael McKeon 

Michael Tedman 

Michael Wenkel 

Michele Luttig 

Michelle Berry 

Michelle Carson 

Michelle Cybulski 

Michelle Goodman 

Michigan Farm Bureau 

Missaukee County Farm Bureau 

M.J. Winters 

M’Lissa Walley 

Monica Almy 

Nancy Bates 

Nancy Fuller 

Nancy Kranich 

Nancy Mead 

Nancy Thelen 

Norma Corzo-Arias 

Norma Hampton 

Norma Standley 

N.W. Michigan Farm Bureau Inc. 

Oakland County Farm Bureau 

P.E. Pulley 

P. Horak 

Pam MacCready 

Pamela Godbey 

Pamela Hicks 

Pamela McDaniel 

Pamela Montague 

Pamela Rogers 

Pamela Shauhnessy 

Patricia Andrews 

Patricia Cotter 

Patricia Dolan 

Patricia Williams 

Paul Karafa 

Paul Mission 

Peggy Abood 

Peggy Braun 

Peggy Zettle 

Penny Bulock 

Peter Quakkelaar 

Phillip Dieck 

Popovski Insurance Agency 

Prima Church 

R.A. Lapland & Associates 

Ranee Vermeesch 

Raymond West 

Rene O’Brien 

Rhonda Meyers 

Richard Gleason 

Richard Keilen 

Richard Messing 

Richard Miller 

Richard Murray 

Richard Piana 

Richard Schafer 

Rita Wright 

Robert Girvin 

Robert Luxmore 

Robin Slack 

Ron Hicks 

Ronald McInnes 

Ronald Nelson 

Rosemary Thelen 

Ruby Boyse 

Sally Blue 

Sally Hartsuff 

Sandra Dent 

Sandra Jury 

Sandra Schafer 

Sandra Simon 

Sara Burnie 

Sarah Black 

Sarah Crispin 

Sarah Pion 

Sarah Schreiber 

Schmucker Farms 

Scott Fair Agency 

Scott Lonier 

Scott Warren Agency 

Shanna Donaldson 

Shannon Sharp-Ostrander 

Sharon Carlson 

Sharon Creswell 

Sharon McElroy 

Sharon Norton-White 

Sharon Oatman 

Sheila North 

Shelly Holmes 

Sherry Martin 

Shirley Summers 

Sonja Jurzysta 

Staci Thelen 

Stefani Rankin 

Steven Hummer 

Steven Rock 

Susan Dec 

Susan Domzalski 

Susan Earley 

Susan Esch-Lohr 

Susan Feldpausch 

Susan Gordon 

Susan Hartenburg 

Suzanne Reed 

Sylvia Bittner 

Tammy Rinckey 

Tamra Thelen 

Teresa Yeakey 

Terrance Watts 

Thelma Bloom 

Theresa Moore 

Thomas Carter 

Thomas Dillman 

Thomas Fitzsimons 

Thomas Hardenbergh 

Thomas Parker 

Thomas Schrote 

Thomas Stoeckle 

Thomas Wiseman 

Tim Heffner Agency 

Timothy Barry 

Tom French 

Tracy Germain 

Valerie Hodges 

Victor Verchereau 

Wayne Sherwood 

Wayne Wood 

Wendy Banker 

Wexford County Farm Bureau 

Wladyslaw Lorek 

William McClelland 

William Weitzel 

Yvonne Werner 

Zelma Pelfrey 

Zoltan Cunningham 

Minnesota 

Albert Bodenhamer 

Diane Omberg 

Gary Welharticky 

Jeffrey Paulson 

Kathryn Beatty 

Kyle Randklev 

Minnesota Farm Bureau Foundation 

Mysty Shamp 

Nicolette Rindahl 

Rebecca Darling 

Richard Bremer 

Stephanie Bach 

Missouri 

Dennis Martin 

Donald Woods 

Gene Painter 

Hiland Dairy Foods Co. 

Kathleen Palermo 

Mulford Farms Inc. 

St. Louis County Farm Bureau 

Mississippi 

A.C. Atkison Jr. 

Al Cummins 

Anthony Christian 

B.B. Hemphill 

Benjie Carter 

Bill Hite 

Billy Hopkins 

Billy Rainey 

Billy Ray Champion 

Bob Atkins 

Charles Noyes 

Clay County Co-op 

Dan Manning 

Danny Wynne 

David Dodd 

David Hurt 

David Kennedy 

David Price 

Don Cook 

Don Greene 

Donald Gray 

Dwight Smith 

Ed Rawls 

Farm Bureau Insurance 

Frank Blossman III 

Garry Woodruff 

George Dan Martin 

George Moore 

George Rooks 

Hank Butler 

Harry Laker 

Henry Gilreath 

Hilton Rainey 

Hubert Hatfield Jr. 

Hugh Rather 

H.W. Harp 

J. Prate Montgomery 

Jerrell Dearman 

Jerry Fulton 

Jim Smith 

Jimmy Calvary 

John Burton 

Johnny Johns 

Johnny Mills 

Jolayne Loden 

Kathryn Arant 

Kathy Davis 

Kay Baker 

Kay Elliott 

Ken Rackley 

Kevin Myers 

K.L. Stephens 

Lamar Makamson 

Larry Whitaker 

Larry Willbanks 

Leslie Stephenson 

Liberty Cash 

Mackey Wade 

Malcolm Wesson 

Marion Breckenridge 

Mark Mize 

Mary Jean Hutchins 

Matt Niemeyer 

Michael Braddock 

Michael Vick 

Mike Bridwell 

Mike Tingle 

Moose Tolbert 

Myron Tollison 

Pat Caldwell 

Prentiss County Farm Bureau 

Randy Hayman 

Randy Hynum 

Rick Coulter 

Rick Dowdy 

Rick Newman 

Rick Smith 

Ricky Ferguson 

Robert Hester 

Robert Hughes 

Robert Mitchener 

Ron Holsonback 

Russell Wilson 

Rusty Calvert 

Sam Loftin 

Shelton Culpepper 

Sidney Parker 

Simpson County Farm Bureau 

Sondra Blackburn 

Teddy Bilbo 

Thomas Allen 

Tim Haire 

Tommy Scott 

Wade Hailey 

Walthall County Farm Bureau 

Wayne Perkins 

Wayne Stanley 

Wayne Thaxton 

Webster County Agency 

William Lawson 

William Phillips 

William Riley 

Montana 

Gregory Lackman 

McCone County Farm Bureau 

P. Golterman 

Rosebud-Treasure County Farm 


North Carolina 

Amy Shivar 

Anthony Reese 

Brunswick County Farm Bureau 

Burke County Farm Bureau 

Columbus County Farm Bureau 

Durham County Farm Bureau 

Dwight Williams 

Edgecombe County Farm Bureau 

Inc. 

Granville County Farm Bureau 

Happy Trails Cowboy Church 

Harmon’s Dairy 

Harold Robinson 

James Mills 

John Dellinger 

Kenneth Powell 

L.B. Whitfield 

Lorenda Overman 

Lowell Underwood 

Lycurous Lowry 

M. Scott Whitford 

Mary Jernigan 

Norris Clippinger 

Patricia Cain 

Robert Sessions 

Robeson County Farm Bureau Inc. 

Rockingham County Farm Bureau 

Roger Williams 

Rutherford County Farm Bureau 

Inc. 

We Sugg III 

North Dakota 

Barbara Holtgard 

Don Nelson 

Donnavon Moser 

Elizabeth Mauch 

Gail Scherweit 

John Kollman 

Jon Reinpold 

Julie Mauch 

Katie Schuler 

Sara Bjerke 

Stacy Flanery 

Timothy Green 

Travis Strobel 

Nebraska 

Amy Renz 

Austin Searles 

Cuming County Farm Bureau 

Dotty Roseberry 

Douglas Gibson 

Gage County Farm Bureau 

Helen Ohme 

Howard County Farm Bureau 

Immanuel Lutheran Church— 

James Jackson 

Kay Schroder 

Lincoln County Farm Bureau 

Logan County Farm Bureau 

Lori Potter 

Nebraska Farm Bureau Services Inc. 

Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation 

Richard Neel 

Roberts Dairy Co. 

Sarpy County Farm Bureau 

Sheridan County Farm Bureau 

University of Nebraska at Kearney 

Wayne County Farm Bureau 

New Hampshire 

Gordon Bemis 

Lutie Bradeen 

New Hampshire Farm Bureau 

New Jersey 

Ann Marie Hagemann 

Catherine Salzman 

Duck Flats Farm & Thunderhoof 

Stables 

Henrietta Dreyer 

Jack Rinehart 

Jerome Frecon 

Lawrence Hutchins 

Linda Terranova 

Mercer County Board of Agriculture 

Middlesex County Board of 

Agriculture 

Monmouth County Board of 

Agriculture 

New Jersey Farm Bureau 

Sebowisha Farms 

New Mexico 

Barbara Harris 

Charlotte Mitchell 

Dennis & Margene Harris 

Midbar Ranch 

Western Farm Bureau Loan Co. Inc. 

Nevada 

Julie Wolf 

Lura Weaver 

The Stodieck Farm 

New York 

Amy Barnewall 

Chemung County Farm Bureau 

Colleen Tweedie 

Dueppengiesser Dairy Co. 

Eileen Pelkofsky 

George Rauf 

Greene County Farm Bureau 

John & Anne Lincoln 

Koval Brothers Dairy LLC 

Kristine Ooms 

Leon Kraszewski Jr. 

Lois Partin 

Margery Secrest 

Marien Klett 

Michelle Gogel 

New York Farm Bureau 

Robert Delavergne 

Saratoga County Farm Bureau Inc. 

The Country Garden LLC 

Washington County Farm Bureau 

Ohio 

Annie M Swarey 

Anthony Arnold 

Belmont County Farm Bureau 

Butler County Farm Bureau 

Federation 

Craig Pohlman 

Cuyahoga County Farm Bureau 

Derek Willeke 

Diana Chandler 

Dianna Wetzel 

Eileen Schuerman 

Jane Peterson 

John Parker 

Judith Roush 

Kevin Wayne Scarlett 

L. Jeannine Hogue 

Marrow County Antique Tractor 

Marysue Willeke 

Max McGowan 

Michael Davis 

Monroe County Farm Bureau 

Noble County Farm Bureau 

Ohio Farm Bureau Federation Inc. 

Rachel Wentworth 

Rebecca Moehl 

Robert Peterson 

Roger Schneidewind 

Summit County Farm Bureau Inc. 

Vera Hankey 

Oklahoma 

Beverly Delmedico 

C.J. Schretes 

Delores Vandeman 

J.A. Degeare 

Joseph Peterson 

Margaret Peters White 

Martin & Renee Smith 

Mary Canfield 

Oklahoma Farm Bureau 

R.A. Tenney 

Oregon 

Barbara Hawes 

Dave Barrows & Associates 

Deschutes County Farm Bureau 

Ernest Rieben 

Klamath County Farm Bureau 

Oregon Farm Bureau Federation 

Pennsylvania 

Adelaide Kretzing 

Barbara Lowe 

Boyd Wolff 

Bucks County Farm Bureau 

Cambria County Farm Bureau 

Chester Delaware County Farm 


Clarion County Holstein Club 

Dennis Martin 

Diana Rarig 

Fayette County Farm Bureau 

Gary O’Malia 

Lisa Semmel 

Naomi Hoopes 

Northampton County 4-H Dairy 

Club 

Owen Heiss 

Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture 

Paul & Nancy Semmel 

Phillips Mushroom Farms LP 

Robert Pardoe Jr. 

RPA-NLC 

Shirley Novajosky 

Somerset County Farm Bureau 

Susquehanna County Farm Bureau 

Thomas Earp 

Valley View Poultry Farm 

Virginia Hess 

Wilson Smeltz Jr. 

York County Junior Livestock Clubs 

Rhode Island 

Rhode Island Farm Bureau 


South Carolina 

Aiken County Farm Bureau 

Allendale County Farm Bureau 

Alva McCaskill Jr. 

Amanda Nichols 

Anderson County Farm Bureau 

Bamberg County Farm Bureau 

Barnwell County Farm Bureau 

Betty Jackson 

Calhoun County Farm Bureau 

Clara Humphrey 

Charles Nichols 

Chastity Dantzler 

Chesterfield County Farm Bureau 

Darlington County Farm Bureau 

David Newton 

David Winkles Jr. 

Frances & Phillip Price 

Frances Lynch 

Gene Lawhon 

George Nichols 

Georgetown County Farm Bureau 

Greenwood County Farm Bureau 

H.N. Dantzler 

Hampton County Farm Bureau 

Hazel Z. Mills 

J. Cutter Montgomery 

Jasper County Farm Bureau 

Jeanne Ulmer 

Jennifer Vaughn 

John Fallaw Jr. 

John Folk Jr. 

Karen Rudd 

Katherine Brown 

Lancaster County Farm Bureau 

Lexington County Farm Bureau 

Lisa Lee 

Liyueh Lin Huang 

Maria Samot 

Marion County Farm Bureau 

Mary Margaret Bowman 

Methel Taylor 

Newberry County Farm Bureau 

Patricia Bowersox 

Patricia Jackson 

Phillip E. Love Jr. 

R. Lawrence Smith 

Raymond Babb 

Richland County Farm Bureau 

S. Michael Stewart 

Southern Farm Bureau Casualty 

Insurance Co. 

South Carolina Farm Bureau 


T.A. Warren Jr. 

Union County Farm Bureau 

South Dakota 

Art Bergeson Jr. 

David Deberg 

Joyce & John Haak 

South Dakota Farm Bureau 

Federation 

Tennessee 

Alan Potts 

Alene Smith 

Arlene Jones 

Bedford City Farm Bureau Women 

Bedford County Farm Bureau 

Carroll County Farm Bureau 

Charles Curtis 

Charles Kemp 

Grainger County Farm Bureau 

Henry County Farm Bureau 

James Jessee 

Lynn McMahan Hauling 

Norman Layne 

Robert Beets Jr. 

Saint Clair Ruritan Club 

Sheila Earhart 

Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation 

Triple L Ranch 

William Parker 

Texas 

3-D Farms—Stefano’s 

Alan R. Zeman 

Albert Zimmerer 

Alfon Jansa 

B.J. Huffman 

Bill Wooten 

Blair Russell 

Bob Stallman 

Bobby Cole 

C. Fred Richter 

Carl Enderby 

Carol Pilgrim 

Charlene Nash 

China Spring High School 

Colorado County Farm Bureau 

Comal County Farm Bureau 

Cooke County Farm Bureau 

Dallas County Farm Bureau 

Dawson County Farm Bureau 

Dewitt County Farm Bureau 

Don Walden 

Doris Hoelscher 

Dorothy Carabetta 

Easton Wall 

Edward Pick 

Edwin Knight 

Elmo Dahl 

Erna Schneider 

Fort Bend County Farm Bureau 

Frank Royal 

Gary McGehhe 

Gilbert Laubach 

Guadalupe County Farm Bureau 

Helene Boehme 

Helga Harper 

Hemphill County Farm Bureau 

Hill County Farm Bureau 

Horace Reece 

Hubert L. Berry 

Ida Perrigo 

James Maxton 

Jana Middleton 

Joe Connell Jr. 

Joe Holmes 

Joe Kapavik 

John Lake 

Joycelyn Calame 

Katharine Thompson 

Keith Colteryahn 

Kenneth & Binnie Dierschke 

Kenneth Sicking 

Lana Robinson 

Lavaca County Farm Bureau 

Leslie Keese 

Lillian Galbreath 

Limestone County Farm Bureau 

Main Street Pharmacy & Gifts 

Malone Community Farm Bureau 

Margaret Foster 

Margaret Galbreath 

Mark Durst 

Marvin Schulz 

Melinda E. Walter 

Melissa Becker 

Michelle Moore 

Milton Peterson 

Nathan Haile 

Nelda Vaughn 

Newcastle Church of Christ 

Parmer County Farm Bureau 

Pat Bazzell 

Philip Dreiseszun 

Rex Kesler 

RGK Farms Inc. 

Robert Harle 

Rockin C Ranch 

Rudy Schumacher 

Sabine County Farm Bureau 

San Patricio County Farm Bureau 

Sandra Hoyland 

Sara Farms 

Sharon Tomas 

Shirley Hannes 

Sidney Clary 

Starr County Farm Bureau 

Synergistic International LLC 

Terry County Farm Bureau 

Texas Farm Bureau 

Travis County Farm Bureau 

W.C. Pallmeyer 

W.P. Stromberg 

Wanda Magee 

Weldon Mika 

Weston Brandes 

Wharton County Farm Bureau 

Wilbarger County Farm Bureau 

William Arnold 

Wilson County Farm Bureau 

W.J. Poynor Sr. 

Wynona Riddles 

Utah 

Karla Lister 

Lillian Jo Schmidt 

Virginia 

Accomack County Farm Bureau 

Albemarle County Farm Bureau 

Augusta County Farm Bureau Inc. 

Barbara Whitehead 

Chantilly Turf Farms 

Charles Koogler 

Charles City, James City, New Kent 

County Farm Bureau 

Christina Lilja 

Cyndie Sirekis 

Floyd County Farm Bureau 

Fluvanna County Farm Bureau 

Women’s Committee 

Franklin County Farm Bureau 

Grayson County Farm Bureau 

Federation 

Halifax County Farm Bureau 

Hallie Lillard 

Hanover County Farm Bureau 

Hollis M. Estes Jr. 

James Hawthorne 

Joseph Stepp 

Julie Anna Potts 

Kelli Ludlum 

Madison County Farm Bureau 

Marsha Regeling 

Martha L. White 

Mary Aylor 


Nancy Kegley 

Patricia Sanders 

Patrick County Farm Bureau 

Paul Schlegel 

Pittsylvania Farm Bureau Federation 

Powhatan County Farm Bureau Inc. 

Pulaski County Farm Bureau 

Roanoke County Farm Bureau 

Surry County Farm Bureau 

Tazewell County Farm Bureau 

Travis Williams 

Treazure Johnson 

Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual 

Insurance 

Virginia Farm Bureau Federation 

Women’s Committee 

Wallace Carter 

Westmoreland County Farm Bureau 

Vermont 

William Wicks 

Washington 

Barbara Carlton 

Benton County Farm Bureau 

Clark Cowlitz Farm Bureau 

Daedal Ventures LLC 

Er Stuhlmiller 

King-Pierce Farm Bureau 

Larry Jensen 

Lewis County Farm Bureau 

Pamela Hesse 

Richard Johnson 

Snohomish County Farm Bureau 

Southwest Washington County Farm 


Stephanie Coon 

Thomas Wynne 

Toni Drouhard 

Whatcom County Farm Bureau 

Yakima County Farm Bureau 

Washington, D.C. 

American Farm Bureau Federation 

Wisconsin 

Association of Equipment 

Manufacturers 

Bill Petersen 

Carla Gunst 

Carmen Good 

Fond Du Lac County Farm Bureau 

Grant County Farm Bureau 

Green County Farm Bureau 

Hard Knox Farm 

Howard Poulson 

James Holte 

Janice Anderson 

Kuhn Knight Inc. 

Lakeshore Federated Dairy Co-op 

Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation 

West Virginia 

Uinta County Farm Bureau 

Wyoming 

Jean Harshbarger


Farmers Display Innovations in Showcase 

Farmers are notorious tinkerers, and they 

sometimes come up with great inventions for 

getting jobs done quicker, safer, easier and 

cheaper. The following Farm Bureau members 

will show off their ideas in the Showcase, and 

the best idea will be announced during the 

Farmer Idea Exchange Awards at the Flapjack 

Fundraiser, 7 a.m., Monday, Jan. 9, in Ryman 

Exhibit Hall C1. 

Automatic Cattle Fly Sprayer, Roger 

Williamson – This sprayer-feeder mechanism 

allows cattle to operate a three-way switch by 

raising the trough lid when eating minerals. 

This lid switch action, in conjunction with a 

solid-state programmable time delay relay and 

a power relay, energizes a 12 volt DC solenoid 

valve after the cow release the trough lid and 

applies a four-second spray application at the 

rear of the cow as she exits the structure. The 

system saves the cost of installing fly tags, 

time and stress by not having to corral cattle to 

spray them in the hot fly season. 

Baler-Mate, Dale Alvarez – The Baler- 

Mate saves time and money by eliminating the 

need for a second person, a second tractor and 

another hay rake when baling hay. Three rake 

wheels on each side of the baler are set in 

place by stabilizer arms attached to the baler. 

The rake can be raised with hydraulic cylinders 

and moved to the sides of the baler for 

transport. The invention also saves fuel by 

eliminating trips across the field and from 

field to field. 

Bin Roof Guard Rail, Greg Ervin – 

This guard rail for a grain bin roof provides 

protection against accidentally falling off the 

grain bin by providing a hand rail above the 

roof. The guard rail is welded into place. It 

provides a measure of safety protection that is 

not provided by bin manufacturers. Falling off 

a bin can cause serious—and costly—injuries. 

Cattle Creep Feeder, Joe Paul 

Mattingly – With today’s cattle prices, creep 

feeding calves is very cost-effective, but commercial 

creep feeding equipment is expensive. 

(Creep feeding provides calves with access to 

supplemental nutrients while still nursing. An 

opening big enough for calves but too large 

for grown cattle ensures the calves get the 

additional nutrients, and the calves grow to 

market weight faster.) Most farms have access 

to gravity bed wagons. By attaching two gates 

and a sorting panel to the wagon, and blocking 

the grain chute on the wagon, calves have 

access to the feed. The cost of converting the 

wagon is about $400, compared to $2,500 for 

a commercial creep feeder. 

EZ-Open Gooseneck Cover, Duane 

Gress – The EZ-Open works by mounting the 

hitch cover to a five-eighths-inch rod that exits 

the left side of the truck bed. A bolt head 

welded to the rod allows for opening and closing 

the cover to hook up a gooseneck trailer 

without having to enter the truck bed. It also 

for a safety chain for the cover and eliminates 

the need for a hole in the cover to “get a hold” 

to open it. This makes the truck bed a complete 

flat surface that small objects cannot fall 

into. 

From Milk to Yogurt Cheese, Barbara 

Crain – Yogurt cheese is made by draining the 

whey off of yogurt. It can be substituted for 

cream cheese. It has less fat and fewer calories 

than cream cheese or sour cream. The product 

can be flavored and sold in supermarkets. 

Selling milk as yogurt cheese rather than a raw 

commodity has the potential for greatly 

increasing farm income. 

Mobile Drop Light, Kevin Buckstead – 

This modified drop light, or trouble light, 

attaches to the posts of a vehicle battery, providing 

an inexpensive portable light source in 

emergencies. It’s inexpensive and weighs less 

than ready-made emergency light sources. It 

LeRoy Stotts of Seiling, Okla., was the grand prize winner in last year's Farmer Idea Exchange. 

Visit the Farmer Idea booths in the Showcase to see this year's contestants and their money- and 

time-saving inventions. 

provides safety, economy and convenience. 

Mulching Vine Crops with Cover Crop 

Wheat, Scott Travis – Cover crop wheat is 

mowed to provide mulch for ornamental crops 

sold for fall decorating, such as gourds and 

pumpkins. In addition to providing weed control 

and cutting down on dirt that has to be 

washed off the produce, the process controls 

erosion in the fields by providing strips of 

sprouted wheat. 

Open Gate Holder, Walter Bueker – 

The Open Gate Holder is simply a rod that is 

stored on the gate tubing. Dropped in the 

ground after the gate is opened, it will hold the 

gate open until removed and replaced on the 

gate tubing. 

Saddle Up, Carl Seeliger – Saddle Up is 

an articulating saddle rack designed for a standard 

rear tack compartment of a horse trailer. 

Saddle Up will lift the saddles up and out, 

making them easy to access. It can be wired 

either directly to the trailer wiring or to a separate 

battery. It’s a time and labor saving 

device, it promotes safety and it’s easy for all 

to use. 

Scrape Up Savings, Robert Barnett – 

These two-piece, easy to install scrapers are 

designed to replace the John Deere scrapers 

for double-disc drills. They cost half as much 

as the original scrapers and will not wear out 

because of their simple design. Not only do 

they cost less in the beginning, but they also 

save money over the long term. Because the 

scrapers are placed one-sixteenth of an inch 

away from the discs, the discs do not receive 

added wear by rubbing or stopping them, 

which reaps additional savings. 

Shover, Clint Dearden – The Shover is 

two tools in one: a shovel at one end with a 

detachable hammer on the opposite end. The 

Shover saves time and frustration when building 

and repairing fences and other farm tasks 

by combining a shovel and a hammer in one 

easy-to-carry tool. 

Skid Loader Hitch, Lary Bordeaux – 

The Skid Loader Hitch is an attachment for 

the skid loader that makes it quick and easy to 

park equipment in tight spaces. It works by 

hooking up to the equipment in the same way 

as a tractor, but the Skid Loader Hitch allows 

you to look toward the equipment. It has a 

zero degree turning radius, which allows for 

accurate and easy turning. 

Speedy Change Farm & Market Sign, 

George Hubka – The “Speedy Change” sign 

provides for convenient and fast changing panels 

listing the various products sold at a farm 

or farmer’s market. 

T-Post Driver, John Gipson – The T- 

Post Driver is a metal tubing with a metal 

plate attached. It is telescoped over a T-post, 

and using the front-end loader of a tractor it is 

used to drive the T-post into the ground. Being 

on level ground, all of the T-posts will be the 

same height. The T-Post Driver makes fence 

building faster and easier. 

TENNESSEE 


agricultural force to be reckoned with. 

Tennessee has 13 

million acres of forests and is the national 

leader in production of hardwood flooring. 

The state is one of the country’s leading 

exporters of hardwood lumber. 

Tennessee farmers were among the first 

to embrace no-till farming, a practice in which 

soil is not plowed before seed is planted. 

Then again, the state has a long history in 

strengthening farm production. The 

University of Tennessee was the first southern 

land grant institution. It was designated in 

1867 to promote agricultural research and education. 

With 608,251 Tennessee Farm Bureau 

members and the largest 4-H Club membership 

in the nation, the future of agriculture in 

Tennessee looks bright. 

Batter Up for AFB 

Foundation Silent Auction 

If you like to scour auctions and estate 

sales for treasures you didn’t know you needed, 

then you will really enjoy the American 

Farm Bureau Foundation Silent Auction. And 

the foundation will appreciate the funds raised 

through the auction. All proceeds will go 

toward the foundation’s agricultural education 

work. 

This year’s Silent Auction will feature 

two especially exciting items: a baseball bat 

signed by Cal Ripken Jr., and a guitar signed 

by country music artist Sammy Kershaw. 

Ripken retired from the Baltimore Orioles 

after setting a new record for the number of 

consecutive games played. He will speak at 

Members Gather 


famous for his 1975 hit song “Wildfire.” Today, 

he is a rancher and a Texas Farm Bureau member. 

He is also known and appreciated for writing 

and performing the theme song for the 

America’s Heartland program, now airing on 

public television. The show, sponsored by AFBF 

and Monsanto, along with several other agricultural 

organizations, celebrates agriculture and 

rural America. It’s rumored that Murphey could 

show up with a few special guests to perform 

with him. 

The Ice Cream Social is sponsored by the 

Dairy Checkoff, the Beef Checkoff and Purity 

Dairies. The concert is sponsored by Supporters 

of America’s Heartland, including AFBF and 

Monsanto. 

One of country music’s newest sensations, 

Michael Peterson, will perform Monday, Jan. 9, 

during the American Farm Bureau Foundation 

for Agriculture’s Flapjack Fundraiser, which 

begins at 7 a.m. Peterson is best known for his 

1997 hit single “Drink, Swear, Steal and Lie,” 

which isn’t as rowdy as the title implies. 

Peterson was named Top New Artist of 1997 by 

Billboard and Radio & Records, two publications 

that cover the music industry. His hit 

“From Here to Eternity” earned him his first No. 

1 spot on the Billboard charts. 

Peterson’s performance is sponsored by 

New Holland. Tickets for the Flapjack 

Fundraiser are $30 and can be purchased at the 

door. All proceeds will benefit the “Great 

American Farm” exhibit at Innoventions at 

Epcot, at Walt Disney World. 

Also new this year is an expansion of the 

Cyber Café, where convention attendees can 

check their e-mail and surf the Web. In addition 

to a smaller version of the Cyber Café in its traditional 

location in the Showcase, a larger version 

of it will be open near the registration desk. 

This change was made so that the Cyber Café 

would be available at times when the Showcase 

is closed. 

Saturday-Sunday 

Events 

Convention registration begins at 7 a.m. on 

Saturday, Jan. 7, in the Delta Ballroom Pre- 

Function area. The registration desk will be 

open until 6 p.m. that day, and reopen at 7 a.m. 

on Sunday. It will open once more at 7:30 a.m. 

on Monday. 

The first official event on Sunday will be 

the Morning Devotions service, at 8:30 a.m. in 

the Delta Ballroom. Next, the Showcase, Farm 

Bureau’s own version of a trade show, begins at 

9:30 a.m. in Ryman Exhibit Hall C2. See page 5 


Monday’s General Session. 

Kershaw has had several country hits, 

including “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful” 

and “I Can’t Reach Her Anymore.” He will 

perform at the Awards and Entertainment 

Program at 7:30 Monday night. 

Additional items that could get a lot of 

interest are a leaf blower, chainsaw, lawn trimmer 

and Yard Boss cultivator, from Stihl, a 

model of a John Deere tractor, and a football 

signed by several NFL players. 

The auction will be open in the 

Showcase, in Ryman Exhibit Hall C2, from 

9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 8, and 

from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 9.


Members Gather 


for a complete list of Showcase exhibitors. 

The Showcase will remain open until 3 

p.m. on Sunday, and reopen from 9 a.m. until 3 

p.m. Monday, Jan. 9. 

Registration for the Young Farmer and 

Rancher (YFR) competitions will begin at 7 

a.m. in the Bayou E Foyer. The Discussion Meet 

will take place in Bayou A-E and Canal A-E, 

with round 1 beginning at 9:30 a.m., round 2 

beginning at 11:30 a.m. and the Sweet 16 round 

beginning at 1:30 p.m. 

The Farm Bureau Women’s Committee 

activities will begin with the regional caucuses 

at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, in Governors’ 

Ballroom A, C, D and E. Next will be the 

Women’s Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. and Business 

Session at 12:30 p.m. in Presidential Ballroom 

A&B. 

As usual, the convention offers a wide 

variety of conferences and workshops on specific 

agricultural issues as well as general motivational 

topics. See page 3 for details about the 

planned conferences. 

Other Meeting 

Highlights 

The Sunday afternoon General Session, at 

3 p.m., will feature AFBF President Bob 

Stallman’s annual address to Farm Bureau members. 

Stallman is expected to expound on this 

year’s convention theme, “Country Roads & 

Global Highways,” provide a general wrap-up 

of Farm Bureau’s achievements for 2005 and 

talk about the organization’s goals for 2006. 

Also, the recipients of the Distinguished 

Service Award (DSA) will be announced during 

the General Session. The DSA is the highest 

honor that AFBF bestows on an individual. The 

YFR contest finalists also will be announced in 

the General Session. 

A speech by baseball great Cal Ripken Jr., 

will be the highlight of the Monday afternoon 

General Session, also at 3 p.m. Ripken is known 

as baseball’s Iron Man for setting a new record 

of 2,632 consecutive games played. He still 

holds the record. 

Monday’s events also include the State 

Women’s Committee Chair Luncheon, at 11:30 

a.m. in the Magnolia Ballroom, and the County 

Presidents’ Lunch at 12 noon in Ryman Exhibit 

Hall C1. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns 

will address more than 1,000 county Farm 

Bureau presidents at their luncheon. 

The annual American Farm Bureau 

Foundation for Agriculture Silent Auction will 

again this year take place in the Showcase area, 

Ryman Exhibit Hall C2. See page 14 for more 

information about exciting items in the Silent 

Auction. 

The most important thing to happen 

Tuesday morning will be, of course, the beginning 

of the annual meeting of AFBF voting delegates, 

beginning at 8 a.m. in the Presidential 

Ballroom. As a result of Farm Bureau’s membership 

growth in 2005, there will be 440 delegates 

this year, an increase of seven over last 

year’s total. The delegates will debate changes 

to AFBF policy and adopt policy positions for 

2006. They will also hold elections for AFBF 

president and vice-president. 

Regional caucuses will begin at 5 p.m. in 

the Bayou A-D and Canal A-D rooms. 

The convention will end Wednesday, Jan. 

11, with the conclusion of the voting delegate 

session, followed by a meeting of the AFBF 

board of directors. 

Nashville offers great restaurants, activities 

There’s music and much, much more in Music 

City, USA. Nashville’s restaurants offer such a 

variety of cuisine, from American to Caribbean 

to Swiss, you could consider yourself a globetrotter 

after sampling the fare. In addition, the 

area’s historical and political roots run deep, 

from former President Andrew Jackson (1829- 

1837) to current Senate Majority Leader Bill 

Frist (R-Tenn.), who will be speaking at the convention 

on Sunday, Jan. 8. 

All addresses are in Nashville 

* AFBF staff pick 

PLACES TO EAT 

AMERICAN: 

Cock of the Walk* 

2624 Music Valley Dr. 

Ph.: (615) 889-1930 

According to Marsha Purcell, managing 

director, AFB Foundation for Agriculture 

and program development, Cock of the Walk 

offers great southern cooking, including 

fried catfish and okra. 

F. Scott’s Restaurant and Jazz Bar 

2210 Crestmoor Rd. 

Ph.: (615) 269-5861 

Green Hills and South Nashville 

Harper’s 

2610 Jefferson St. 

Ph.: (615) 329-1909 


Martha’s at the Plantation 

5025 Harding Pke. 

Ph.: (615) 353-2828 

Belle Meade and environs 

Monell’s 

1235 6th Ave. North 

Ph.: (615) 248-4747 

Downtown and the District 

Sunset Grill 

2001 Belcourt Ave. 

Ph.: (615) 386-3663 

Music Row and the West End 

CARIBBEAN: 

Calypso 

2424 Elliston Pl. 

Ph.: (615) 321-3878 


ECLECTIC: 

Bound’ry* 

911 20th Ave. South 

Ph.: (615) 321-3043 


Cody Lyon, AFBF director of grassroots and 

policy advocacy, said Bound’ry is unique and 

exciting, with a wide variety of food choices. 

Mirror 

2317 12th Ave. S 

Ph.: (615) 383-8330 


Zola 

3001 West End Ave. 

Ph.: (615) 320-7778 


SWISS/GERMAN/AUSTRIAN: 

Gerst Haus 

301 Woodland St 

Ph.: (615) 244-8886 


MEXICAN: 

La Paz Restaurante Cantina 

3808 Cleghorn Ave. 

Ph.: (615) 383-5200 


La Hacienda Taqueria 

2615 Nolensville Rd. 

Ph.: (615) 256-6142 


SEAFOOD: 

Atlantis 

1911 Broadway 

Ph.: (615) 327-8001 


STEAKHOUSES: 

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse 


Ph.: (615) 342-0131 


Jimmy Kelly’s 

217 Louise Ave. 

Ph.: (615) 329-4349 


Stock-Yard Restaurant 

901 2nd Ave. N 

Ph.: (615) 255-6464 


JAPANESE/SUSHI: 

Goten 


Ph.: (615) 321-4537 


Benkay Japanese Restaurant 

40 White Bridge Rd. 

Ph.: (615) 356-6600 

Belle Meade and environs 

PLACES TO GO 

Belle Meade Plantation 

5025 Harding Rd. 

Ph.: (615) 356-0501 

Visit Web Site: 

www.bellemeadeplantation.com 

Belmont Mansion 

Belmont University campus 

1900 Belmont Blvd. 

Ph.: (615) 460-5459 

Visit Web Site: www.belmontmansion.com 

Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and 

Museum of Art 

1200 Forrest Park Dr. 

Ph.: (615) 356-8000 

Visit Web Site: www.cheekwood.org 

Country Music Hall of Fame 

222 Fifth Ave. South 

Ph.: (615) 416-2001 

Visit Web Site: 

www.countrymusichalloffame.com 

Grand Ole Opry 

2802 Opryland Dr. 

Ph.: 615-871-OPRY 

Visit Web Site: www.opry.com 

The Hermitage-Home of President Andrew 

Jackson 

4580 Rachel’s Ln. 

Ph.: (615) 889-2941 

Visit Web Site: www.thehermitage.com 

Opry Mills Mall* 

433 Opry Mills Dr. 

Ph.: (615) 514-1000 

Visit Web Site: www.oprymills.com 

Susan Cain, AFBF program assistant, said the 

mall, located within walking distance of the 

Opryland Convention Center, has a variety of 

stores that you can’t find elsewhere. 

The Parthenon 

Centennial Park 

Ph.: (615) 862-8431 

Ryman Auditorium 

116 Fifth Ave. North 

Ph.: (615) 889-3060 

Visit Web Site: http://www.ryman.com/ 

Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge 

422 Broadway 

Ph.: (615) 726-0463 

Visit Web Site: www.tootsies.net 

WILDHORSE SALOON* 

120 2nd Ave. North 

(615) 902-8200 

Visit Web Site: www.wildhorsesaloon.com 

According to Mike Stanton, AFB Inc., membership 

development and coordinator, Wildhorse 

has it all—dancing, food, fun and high energy! 

The famous Wildhorse Saloon is located in a three-level historic warehouse in downtown Music 

City, USA, also known as Nashville. The saloon's 66,000 square-foot space hosts live music and 

dancing. Food offerings include barbecue and fried pickles.

AN EXTRA $ 500 FOR FARM BUREAU ® MEMBERS 

FITS NICELY IN THE WORLD’S BIGGEST CAB. 

RAM MEGA CAB > It’s that big > More rear-seat leg room than anything in its class* > Rear seats that actually recline > Largest rear-door opening angle 

in its class* > Powerful Cummins ® Turbo Diesel engine or 5.7L HEMI ® V8 available > PLUS Farm Bureau members get an extra $ 500 cash allowance † > 

Contact your state Farm Bureau for details > For more info, visit dodge.com/mega_cab or call 800-4ADODGE. 

*Based on full-size, crew cab pickups. †Must be a Farm Bureau member for at least 30 days. Farm Bureau is federally registered collective membership and a registered service mark of the American Farm Bureau Federation. 

Optional Mopar running boards shown. 

Cummins is a registered trademark of Cummins, Inc. 

Dodge and HEMI are registered trademarks of DaimlerChrysler Corporation.

Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 7-8 - American Farm Bureau

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