> The Zipline

A Proud Moment for Farm Bureau

Zippy Duvall

President

The American Farm Bureau Federation is proud that President Trump will be joining us at our annual convention in Nashville and speaking to the thousands of farmers and ranchers gathered there. The President’s attendance, the first for a U.S. president in more than 20 years, is recognition that Farm Bureau members play a vital role: providing food, fiber and energy crops—and the additional jobs they support—for our country.

We look forward to hearing the President’s remarks about issues that are important to farmers’ and ranchers’ bottom lines. The President most likely will mention an executive order he signed last year establishing the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity. That task force, led by Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, shows that agriculture is important to this administration. The administration’s ability to work with Congress to enact tax reform that benefits farmers and ranchers is an accomplishment we expect to hear about from President Trump, and we look forward to thanking him in person for that successful effort, as well as the administration’s effort to ditch the current Waters of the U.S. rule and write a new one that abides by the law. We also hope to hear from Mr. Trump on other issues that affect our farms and ranches, including trade, infrastructure, ag labor, and farm policy.

We look forward to hearing the President’s remarks about issues that are important to farmers’ and ranchers’ bottom lines.

Much has been said and written about what’s different with the current administration compared to those that have come before, and often it does seem as though the political “rules” are changing. But, have things really changed that much? No president has ever enjoyed 100 percent support, and this president is no different. He has supporters and detractors. All presidents promise change; some deliver and some don’t. One thing that hasn’t changed is that we in Farm Bureau have great respect for the Office of the President. We admire anyone who is willing to take on the challenge of leading our great nation. We are tremendously thankful for what President Trump and his team are doing for America’s farmers and ranchers. And we are thankful and honored that he will join us in Nashville. I hope you will, too!

See you in a few days.

Zippy Duvall
President

Vincent “Zippy” Duvall, a poultry, cattle and hay producer from Greene County, Georgia, is the 12th president of the American Farm Bureau Federation.