AFBF President Zippy Duvall to speak at MFBF 101st Annual Meeting
The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) 101st Annual Meeting is set for November 21-23 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Bloomington which culminates the year-long Centennial celebration.
The meeting will celebrate the history of the organization, hold Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) contests, have sessions on agricultural issues and award banquets.
Keynote Speakers
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall is scheduled to speak on Saturday, November 23 at 6 p.m. during the Centennial Dinner. Prior to that all are invited to attend the Centennial Leaders Reunion at 4 p.m. Matt Rush former CEO of the New Mexico Farm Bureau will present “Breaking the Connectivity Code” at 2:45 p.m. on Friday, November 22 and “Planting the Seeds of Greatness” at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 23. Matt is passionate about his values, helping others and is dedicated to the development of a strong, successful future for our current and upcoming generation. “You can do more, be more and have more than you ever thought possible, you just have to be willing to get over yourself to get there,” Matt Rush.
Highlighting 100 years
County Farm Bureaus are invited to display their history in the Showcase of County Historical Displays on Friday and Saturday. A Centennial Leaders Reunion will be held on Saturday at 4 p.m. and at 6 p.m. American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall plans to attend the Centennial Celebration Dinner.
Schedule
The voting delegate session will begin at 8 a.m. on Friday, November 22. Matt Rush will present “Breaking the Connectivity Code” at 2:45 p.m. followed by the social hour with elected officials at 4 p.m. and the awards banquet at 5:30 p.m. to include the President’s address and Foundation auction. On Friday from 8 a.m. until noon attendees will participate in an Agriculture in the Classroom experience with the Promotion & Education (P&E) Committee.
At 1 p.m. members are invited to help make sandwiches for the “Love one Another” project. Pre-registration is required for all of these activities. On Saturday, November 23, educational sessions, the YF&R Discussion Meet, Collegiate YF&R Discussion Meet, YF&R Excellence in Agriculture and YF&R Achievement Award contests are scheduled.
The noon luncheon will include the finals of the YF&R Discussion Meet and the announcement of the YF&R award winners. Saturday afternoon hear Matt Rush, “Planting the Seeds of Greatness” followed by the Centennial Leaders Reunion at 4 p.m. and the Centennial Celebration Dinner with guest speaker American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall.
The conference will conclude on Saturday evening with the grand prize drawing – a non-transferrable air and hotel expense paid trip for one paid Farm Bureau member to the American Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas, January 17-22, 2020.
Speakers and Panels
There will be three general sessions for participants on Saturday, November 23. *2019 Farm Bureau in Minnesota, Through the Years - Starting with world, national, state, and local events that set the stage for the formation of county Farm Bureaus and on November 8, 1919 the formation of the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation. Follow the changing dynamics of an organization formed by and serving farmers and ranchers “Through the Years.”
*Policy Issues Panel – Hear an overview of regulatory to legal to legislative issues from the state and national level. *
Minnesota Commissioners Panel - Commissioners of various state agencies have been invited to a panel discussion with Farm Bureau members to discuss the new administration’s approach to agricultural issues.
Contests
The always anticipated semifinals and final rounds of the YF&R Discussion Meet, Collegiate Discussion Meet, the final Achievement Award interviews and Excellence in Agriculture presentations will be held throughout the day on Saturday.
The Final Four Discussion Meet will he held during the noon luncheon.
The Collegiate Discussion Meet will also be held in conjunction with the MFBF Annual Meeting. The winner of this contest will represent Minnesota at the American Farm Bureau Federation Collegiate Discussion Meet in March 2020.
Banquets and Other Highlights
*Many distinguished Farm Bureau members will be recognized as part of the Centennial celebration of the Minnesota Farm Bureau at the Friday night banquet including: Awards of Excellence, Honorary Life Awards, the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award and the Foundation Awards.
*The Friday awards banquet will also feature MFBF President Kevin Paap’s address.
*The awards presentations will be followed by the Minnesota Farm Bureau Foundation fundraising auction.
Registration
For registration information, contact your county Farm Bureau or Lori Wiegand at 651-768-2102 or lwiegand@fbmn.org. Registration forms and online registration information can be found at fbmn.org/annual-meeting. Pre-registration is required by November 1.