The Voice of Agriculture - American Farm Bureau

Colin Powell: America Remains a Place of Opportunity

America is still a place of hopes, dreams and opportunities, according to Gen. Colin Powell (Ret.). Powell, secretary of state under President George W. Bush, addressed a receptive audience of farmers and ranchers at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 89th annual convention.

Recounting highlights from his 50 years of foreign policy and military service, particularly the strategy of containment for the Soviet Union and China, Powell said it took time for him to get used to “being an average citizen.” More...

Farm Bureau Calls for Action on Farm Bill, Immigration

Watch AFBF President Bob Stallman’s Opening General Session Address

The farm bills approved by both houses of Congress provide the kind of programs America’s farmers want, American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman said during his address at AFBF’s 89th annual convention.

“Our members have made it clear they support a continuation of the three-legged safety net of direct support, counter-cyclical payments and marketing loans,” said Stallman. “This is what we heard – loud and abundantly clear – and this is what our policy supports.” More...

Young Farmers and Ranchers Take Top Honors

Dave and Kelly Ferguson of Indiana won the Achievement Award. Robbyn Moore (left) of Dodge presented the award.

Don Shoemaker of Indiana
won the Discussion Meet.

John and Mary Margaret
Chester of Tennessee won the Excellence in Agriculture Award.

Winners of the Young Farmer and Rancher Achievement Award, Discussion Meet and Excellence in Agriculture competitions were announced at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 89th annual convention. Young farmers from around the United States competed for the awards by demonstrating knowledge of and achievement in agriculture, as well as commitment to promoting the agriculture industry.

Dave and Kelly Ferguson of Indiana won the Achievement Award. They are the winners of a 2008 Dodge Ram 3500, courtesy of Dodge, and a $1,000 product voucher from Valvoline. They also received free registration to the 2008 AFBF YF&R Leadership Conference, Feb. 16-18, in Baltimore, Md.

Don Shoemaker of Indiana won the Discussion Meet. He will take home a 2008 Dodge Ram 2500, courtesy of Dodge, plus free registration to the 2008 YF&R Leadership Conference.

John and Mary Margaret Chester of Tennessee won the Excellence in Agriculture Award. They received a 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and free registration to the YF&R Leadership Conference. More...

Top Farmer Idea Award Goes to Arkansas FB Inventor

James Simpson of Cave Springs, Ark., earned the grand prize in the Farmer Idea Exchange competition at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 89th annual convention.

Simpson won a year’s use of a New Holland TV-145 bidirectional tractor. New Holland has provided a year’s free use of a tractor to the grand prize winner for 18 of the 19 years the program has existed. More...

Foundation for Agriculture Presents Eagle Awards
Alaska Farm Bureau and Nebraska Farm Bureau received Eagle Awards from the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture for outstanding financial support.

The awards were presented during the organization’s Flapjack Fundraiser, a pancake breakfast at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 89th annual convention. More...

AFB Women Concentrate on Leadership Development
The Women’s Leadership Committee of the American Farm Bureau Federation will concentrate on leadership development in 2008, with special emphasis on greater involvement in the political process, according to Terry Gilbert, committee chair. Gilbert, a corn and cattle producer from Danville, Ky., addressed her fellow state Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee leaders and members at a business session during AFBF’s 89th annual convention. More...