Texas farmers and ranchers will address organizational policy issues and recognize successes from the past year during the 87th annual meeting of Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) on Nov. 30 and Dec. 5.

This year’s annual meeting will include both online and in-person sessions.

“The Texas Farm Bureau board of directors approved a plan to hold a hybrid annual meeting,” Si Cook, TFB COO/executive director, said. “This plan addresses the uncertainty surrounding potential restrictions that may be placed on large group meetings as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”

The annual meeting will open with a virtual session via Zoom. The virtual opening session is set for 6:30-8 p.m. on Nov. 30.

During the virtual session, Gov. Greg Abbott will address TFB members. The 2020 Outstanding Young Farmer & Rancher and Excellence in Agriculture award winners will be named, and Pioneer Award winners will be recognized.

District caucuses will be held either virtually or in-person Dec. 1-2.

The annual meeting will conclude with an in-person business session on Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Convention Center in Waco. CDC guidelines will be followed during the meeting.

The business session will feature TFB President Russell Boening’s address, recognition of retiring state directors and the election of new state directors.

Members from the state’s 205 county Farm Bureaus also will work together to craft policy positions and prepare for the challenges agriculture faces.

“Although our annual meeting will be different, we will still evaluate policy to look at ways to strengthen agriculture and private property rights in our state and nation,” Cook said. “The COVID-19 pandemic has created some additional uncertainty for agriculture, but it has also shown the nation that farmers and ranchers are critical and essential to keep our country running.”

Voting delegates will receive an email to register and can make hotel reservations through Betsy Simon at bsimon@txfb.org.

Click here to register for the virtual opening session.

The latest agenda and information for the hybrid annual meeting will be posted online at texasfarmbureau.org/annualmeeting.