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Texas Agriculture Archive

November 1, 2002

Corpus Christi to host
TFB convention Dec. 8-11

Corpus Christi, the beautiful "City by the Bay," is the site of the upcoming 69th Annual Texas Farm Bureau Convention. Voting delegates from around Texas will gather to prepare policy and address agricultural challenges in a positive way at the convention slated for Dec. 8-11.

"We have a lot planned for you during convention week," said Texas Farm Bureau President Donald Patman. "I also hope you use this opportunity to make new friendships, renew old ones and talk about the challenges that face Farm Bureau and agriculture. Ideas, your ideas, are powerful, because they result in dialogue, policy and the betterment of our industry and Farm Bureau itself."

Registration will be conducted from 1-5:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, in the Bayfront Plaza Convention Center, site of the majority of this year's convention activities. The Exhibitor Showcase takes place during those same hours.

Exhibitor Showcase includes motor vehicles, agricultural exhibits, crafts and specialty items, and booths featuring Texas agencies, TFB affiliated companies and County Farm Bureau Purpose Activities. The Young Farmer and Rancher Silent Auction and other fundraising activities will also be in progress.

A Devotional Service at 1:30 p.m. that afternoon sets a positive tone for the annual meeting. An afternoon and evening of TFB Youth Contests— Miss Texas Farm Bureau Contest at 2 p.m.; Free Enterprise Speech Contest Finals, 3:30 p.m.; and Talent Find at 4:30 p.m.—follows.

Registration, Exhibitor Showcase, and the YF&R Silent Auction resume at the Convention Center at 8 a.m. Monday.

The General Session begins at 8:30 a.m. The morning session will include: preliminary activities, welcome, President's Speech, Meritorious Service Award, County Purpose Activity Awards and membership recognitions.

The annual Ladies Luncheon is set for 11:30 a.m.

Discussion Meet Semi-finals, in which young agricultural producers from across Texas discuss topics relevant to production agriculture, are scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

The afternoon General Session runs from 1:30-4 p.m. That session will feature: Pioneer Award winners, Media Awards, Farmer Idea Exchange, County Scrapbook Awards and political guests. Also guest speaker Wayne Ates will present a program entitled "Trade Opportunities for U.S. Farmers and Ranchers."

Following the 4 p.m. break sponsored by AM-PAC, district caucuses begin at 4:30 p.m. at the Convention Center.

Registration continues at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10 at the Convention Center .

First up in the General Session, which starts at 8:30 a.m., is the Discussion Meet Finals. Presentations of the Outstanding YF&R and Excellence in Agriculture awards also take place in the morning session. Other matters on the agenda include the AgLead Graduation and political guests and speakers. A business session follows.

Other Tuesday activities include morning and afternoon Business Session and the the YF&R Luncheon at noon, Wayne Ates is guest speaker.

The Business Session reconvenes Wednesday morning at 8:30 a.m. Following the election of TFB board members and the TFB president, the convention will adjourn.

For those who are interested, the Free Enterprise Speech semi-finals will be held at the Convention Center Saturday, Dec. 7 at 2 p.m.