Rooted in Tradition…Cultivating a Strong Future is the theme to our 90th Annual Meeting. I am looking forward to visiting with you at the Northland Inn in Brooklyn Park. Our Farm Bureau Annual Meeting is a time for celebration of our accomplishments, setting our policy direction for the upcoming year and learning more about topics important to our industry.

Celebration of Our Accomplishments
This year’s 90th Annual Meeting will begin with the Producers Club Dinner, a celebration of the membership efforts of our volunteer leaders. I am especially proud of the 49 members of this year’s Producers Club. I want to report that 11 (of 13) of your state Board members have signed five or more members and are in this year’s Producers Club. We can never forget that our members are the lifeblood of this organization. They are how we get things done. Every one of us must celebrate our membership roots and accomplishments and be committed to cultivate a little harder on membership this next year for a strong future.

Setting Our Policy Direction
The strength of Farm Bureau for 90 years has been and will continue to be our grassroots policy development process. It is our Farm Bureau members at the local level that develop the policies that makeup the American Farm Bureau and the Minnesota Farm Bureau policy books. Our grassroots policy development process is the tool that provides each member a voice seeking solutions to issues that affect their business. This process is the reason Farm Bureau has been ranked as the most politically, influential farm organization and is the reason every farmer should be a Farm Bureau member.

I would like to thank our members for their participation in this year’s policy development process at their county annual meetings, those who served on the Resolutions Committee and especially the leaders that represent their county as voting delegates. Minnesota Farm Bureau has been a driving force in agriculture policy because of the hard work and efforts by each and every one of our members.

Topics Important to Our Industry
There will always be challenges and opportunities in agriculture. This year’s annual meeting will provide members with important information concerning the 2008 election, Food vs. Fuel debate, water quality issues, animal agriculture, precision farming, farm family communication and succession.

Thank You
Our 90th Annual Meeting is a time for celebration and connecting with old and new friends, and the information shared will cultivate each member to be the strongest advocates for agriculture in Minnesota. I urge you to stay Rooted in Farm Bureau’s tradition and continue to cultivate for a strong and secure future. On behalf of all of the board of directors, I thank you for your membership and your dedication to Farm Bureau.