Florida Farm
Bureau will celebrate 63rd Annual Meeting Oct. 27-29, 2004
(GAINESVILLE, Fla.) - Farmers and ranchers from across the state
will gather at the Adam’s Mark Hotel in Daytona Beach
Oct. 27-29 for the Florida Farm Bureau Federation's 63rd Annual
Meeting. They will share knowledge and perspectives with colleagues
as they set organizational policies for the coming year.
This year’s convention theme is “Grassroots
Heroes,” and during the meeting Florida Farm Bureau will
honor dozens of leaders who help make Florida Farm Bureau an
effective advocate for agriculture, the state’s second-largest
industry.
“We are so fortunate to have many high caliber
individuals who contribute to the success of the agricultural
industry as Farm Bureau leaders,” said President Carl
Loop Jr. “Their accomplishments are evident in the public’s
growing understanding of the impact of agriculture to this state.
Agriculture accounts for $62 billion in annual economic impact
across the state and provides 649,000 jobs.”
Convention registration will begin at 9:00 a.m.
on Wednesday, Oct. 27. Conferences on new county Farm Bureau
programs and Florida Farm Bureau’s state legislative agenda
begin that afternoon at 1:30 p.m. Farm Bureau Women will hold
a reception from 3:00-4:30 p.m. while other attendees receive
a briefing from the Florida Wildlife Commission. The President’s
Reception begins at 6:30 p.m. featuring Dr. Holiday, “The
Hilarious Hypnotist.” The reception will be followed at
8:30 p.m. by an ice cream social for Young Farmers and Ranchers.
Highlights of the Thursday session will include
a breakfast beginning at 7:00 a.m. Clebe McClary, a Vietnam
war hero who lost an eye, arm and much of the use of his remaining
hand in battle, will be the keynote speaker. The Youth Speech
Contest will follow at 9:45 a.m. and the Young Farmer and Rancher
discussion meet finals take place at 11:00 a.m.
The balance of the Thursday schedule includes
a Farm PAC luncheon honoring lawmakers who have supported Farm
Bureau’s legislative initiatives; a General Session that
will include the president’s annual address and the Awards
banquet, where two leaders will receive Florida Farm Bureau’s
highest honor, the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award.
On Friday, the convention will host the Commissioner
of Agriculture’s Environmental Leadership Award Breakfast.
The breakfast will be followed by a general session at which
delegates will elect the President and Vice President.
Those planning to attend the annual meeting should
contact Laura Williams at (352) 378-8100, Ext. 1071. Hotel reservations
should be made by calling the Adam’s Mark, (386) 254-8200.
The convention rate is $92 per night, single or double occupancy.
Deadline for hotel reservations is Friday, Oct. 1, 2004.
The Florida Farm Bureau Federation is the
state's largest general-interest agricultural association with
more than 151,000 member-families statewide. There are Farm
Bureaus representing 64 counties in Florida, where agriculture
comprises a stable, vital foundation of Florida's economy, rivaling
the tourism industry in economic importance. Headquartered in
Gainesville, the Federation is an independent, non-profit agricultural
organization and is not associated with any arm of the government.
More information is available on the organization’s website,
http://FloridaFarmBureau.org.
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Florida Farm Bureau Federation