By Jennifer Dorsett
Field Editor
Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) leaders left farms, ranches and businesses for Waco this week to discuss ways to make their county Farm Bureaus the best place to turn for factual, correct information on agriculture.
Advocating for agriculture, tips for growing TFB membership and a preview of next year’s state legislative session priority issues were on the program at the 2020 TFB Presidents’ Conference, which took place Feb. 26-27 at the TFB Training and Conference Center.
“This year’s conference featured a new agenda and format,” TFB President Russell Boening said. “The ideas for these changes originated with county Farm Bureau leaders. We brought in some outside folks like our keynote speaker Matt Rush, who talked about advocating for agriculture, which we often talk about among ourselves. But bringing in some outside people puts more emphasis on it and gives us new ideas.”
It’s easy for individuals to get misled or confused about agriculture, Boening told the crowd of more than 100 county Farm Bureau leaders. In the age of “instant communication,” misinformation is everywhere, all the time.
But ensuring communities understand what Farm Bureau is and why the organization exists can foster a relationship between farmers and ranchers and consumers who are hungry for the truth about agriculture.
Advocating for agriculture is stressed by organizations and individuals, keynote speaker Matt Rush said, but it’s not always easy to do in an effective manner.
“Is it important for people to know who we are and why we do what we do?” Rush asked the audience. “Of course, it is. But it’s more important for people to know why it matters to them and their families.”
By refocusing on consumer needs and not our own, Rush said, farmers and ranchers can build more effective relationships and become trusted advisors when it comes to food facts.
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick addressed the county leaders during the Presidents’ Conference, saying agriculture’s impact is significant in Texas.
“I appreciate how hard you work and what you do,” Patrick said.
He also stressed the importance of rural representation and encouraged everyone to exercise the right to vote. Elected officials who support rural values and understand the role of agriculture in the state are key to helping pass Farm Bureau priority issues, such as eminent domain reform, during the next legislative session.
State Rep. DeWayne Burns, a member of the Johnson County Farm Bureau board of directors who championed eminent domain reform last session in Austin, also met with county leaders during the two-day event.
Burns vowed to continue the fight in 2021. He noted TFB leaders have remained dedicated to reforming state eminent domain laws and that their commitment and integrity during the 2019 session had been noticed by legislators.
The Presidents’ Conference concluded with breakout sessions where leaders heard from TFB staff, Rush and fellow county presidents on ways to engage different audiences, host effective county events and promote agriculture in their communities.
Boening urged those in attendance to take back the information and share it with their board members and county Farm Bureau offices and to continue the exchange of ideas throughout the year.
“It was a great conference. I think county presidents get a lot out of this and we, as state board leaders and state staff, get a lot out of it, as well,” Boening said. “It’s just a good mutual meeting where we can share ideas.”