 Minnesota State FairAug 22 - Sep 2, 2013  |
| AFBF Promotion & Education Conference Sep 24 - 27, 2013 |
| MFBF Leadership Conference Jan 24 - 25, 2014 |
The Promotion and Education program was established to provide educational opportunities and experiences for Farm Bureau members and selected non-members (students, consumers, potential members and others) in order to create awareness and understanding and to promote the importance and values of Farm Bureau and agriculture to consumers and the country.
For more information about the Promotion and Education Program download the P&E County Chair Manual or call 651-768-2115 or email at info@fbmn.org.
Marketbasket Survey Thank you to all the dedicated Farm Bureau volunteer shoppers! The survey would not be possible without their tireless dedication to this project, which tracks retail food price trends and reports on the continued overall affordability of food in America, thanks to our farmers and ranchers.
Marketbasket Price Survey- Shop through March 11
Minnesota Farm Bureau Leadership Conference
The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) presents the Leadership Conference (formerly the Promotion & Education Conference and Young Farmers & Ranchers Conference), January 25-27, 2013. This year’s conference is themed “Your Voice. Our Future.” and will be held at the Airport Hilton in Bloomington. The Leadership Conference is a combined conference designed to provide leadership training for all Farm Bureau members. Visit www.fbmn.org for a conference brochure.
Featured Speaker: Matt Lohr
Matt Lohr will open and close the leadership conference. Matt first developed a passion for speaking as a young FFA member and went on to serve as both a state and national FFA officer. After graduating from Virginia Tech in 1995, he started the company New Directions Communications to spread his positive message. To date he has spoken in all 50 states and 8 countries entertaining crowds of all ages.
Matt has also been deeply involved in the Farm Bureau organization, winning the American Farm Bureau Excellence in Agriculture Award in 2003. He also served several years as his county Farm Bureau president and chaired both his county Planning Commission and School Board. From 2005 until 2010, Matt represented the 26th House District in the Virginia state legislature before becoming Virginia’s 14th Commissioner of Agriculture.
Matt, along with his two young children, live on a Century Farm in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Together they stay very busy with sports, 4-H, school events and numerous church activities.
Pre-Conference Tours
This year’s pre-conference tours will depart from the Airport Hilton Hotel at 10:00 a.m. on Friday. Attendees will tour Len Busch Roses, the University of Minnesota Bell Museum, Fulton Brewery, Kowalski’s Market, J.W. Hulme Company and the Wabasha Street Caves. Pre-registration is required.
Conference Sessions
For the leadership conference this year, two different track experiences will be offered. Track 1 is the Capitol Experience, recommended for first time attendees. Participants will be prepped on legislative issues and governmental processes, then travel to the Minnesota Capitol building for a mock legislative session, including committee hearings and actual floor debate.
Track 2 is designed for Consumer Engagement. Sessions include “Are You Smarter than an Activist?” by Betty Wolanyk with Agriculture Literacy Works, “Growing Victory in the Middle East” by Cheryl Wachenheim of North Dakota State University, animal care practices expert panel, “Engaging Consumers in Effective Conversations” from the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance and the ever-popular make-and-take session.
The leadership conference will also be the host for the preliminary rounds of the Young Farmers & Ranchers discussion meet and training for the Achievement Award and Excellence in Agriculture contests.
On Sunday morning, one of the collaborative authors from “Race for Relevance” will address the importance of Farm Bureau being a pertinent relative organization that others seek to join.
Conference Details
When: January 25-27, 2013
Time: Friday, 6 p.m. – Sunday, noon
Where: Airport Hilton Hotel, Bloomington
Who: All Farm Bureau members interested in topics pertaining to leadership development.
Registration: Registration is due December 28 to MFBF, Leadership Conference, P.O. Box 64370, St. Paul, MN 55164. No refunds will be made after December 28.
Costs
Full Conference: $200 per person (based on double occupancy; includes room, training sessions, meals and materials)
Single Room: $330 per person
Conference Only: $130 per person
Pre-Conference Tours: $40 per person (includes lunch)
Look for brochures and conference information at your county Farm Bureau office and on www.fbmn.org. For more information call 651-768-2100 or email info@fbmn.org.
2013 Leadership Conference Brochure and Registration
Food Awareness Month
Food Awareness Month is in February to promote farmers and inform consumers of where their food comes from and how it is grown and raised.
Food Awareness Month materials are distributed yearly at the Leadership Conference. Additional materials can be purchased through contacting the Public Relations team.
The Minnesota Farm Bureau Promotion and Education (P&E) Committee selects a Book of the Year based on accurate agricultural topics. In addition to their accuracy, Book of the Year selections are educational, reflect farmers’ and ranchers’ love for the land and what they do, correct misconceptions about agriculture, inspire readers to learn more and touch readers’ lives as well as tell the farmer’s story.
2007: Fantastic Farm Machines by Cris Peterson, illustrated by David Lundquist
2008: The Tree Farmer by Chuck Leavell and Nicholas Cravotta, illustrated by Rebecca Bleau
2009: Little House on the Prairie collection box set by Laura Ingalls Wilder
2012: How Did That Get in my Lunchbox? The Story of Food by Chris Butterworth, illustrated by Lucia Gaggiotti
2013:
The Guardian Team: On the Job with Rena and Roo by Cat Urbigkit
We highly encourage county Farm Bureaus to sponsor the P&E Committee’s Book of the Year and donate them to their local schools and libraries.
The American Farm Bureau® Foundation for Agriculture continues to expand its agricultural literacy efforts with the latest edition of their recommended “accurate ag books.” The focus is to identify more accurate information about agriculture.
The newly expanded list contains 276 recommended books for ages two through adult. Each book on the recommended list has been reviewed and is as accurate a book on the topic as we can identify. The books recommended depict agriculture accurately and with modern images and text.
County Fair Kits
The Minnesota Farm Bureau has County Fair Kits available for county use. The kits provide agriculture education signs to be placed throughout a county fair for a scavenger hunt. Click on the links below to download theses items.
Agriculture Scavenger Hunt Packet and Worksheets
Agriculture Scavenger Hunt Posters
Minnesota State Fair The Farm Bureau building at the Minnesota State Fair attracts many visitors every year to its display.Volunteer at the Minnesota Farm Bureau building at the 2012 Minnesota State Fair, August 23 - Labor Day. The Minnesota Farm Bureau exhibit will feature “Minnesota Farmers CARE,” Farmers Feed US, a salad garden and the AgCab Lab. Volunteer by emailing mfbfstatefair@yahoo.com or calling 651-768-2100.
State Fair Volunteer Schedule as of August 27
Book Bundles
The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation Promotion and Education Committee has endorsed the Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom Children's Literature Book Bundle as an important addition to school libraries and community libraries.
The bundle is made up of 22 quality books and covers a diverse array of agricultural topics. These books are fun and appealing, yet provide accurate educational messages. The total cost of the bundle is $285. Visit
www.mda.state.mn.us/maitc for more information on purchasing the bundle.
2013-2014 MFBF Promotion & Education Committee
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District 1
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Vicky Singlestad
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Alex Pirkl
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District II
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| Layne Ebeling
Martin County |
Mark Maiers
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District III
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| TaLana Mathiowetz
Redwood County |
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District IV
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| Nada Carter
Pope County |
Ron Kuechle
Stearns County |
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District V
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| Mike Rouillard (Chair)
Hennepin County |
Ken Schentzel
Dakota County |
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District VI
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| Linda Binkley
Beltrami County |
Darin Lehmann
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District VII
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| Joan Lee
East Polk County |
Renee Sogge
Mahnomen County |
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