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Texas Agriculture Archive

November 21, 2003

Waco gears up
for TFB convention

If you have always wanted to attend the Texas Farm Bureau annual meeting, but time constraints would not allow it, the 70^th annual convention, slated for Dec. 6-8 at the Waco Convention Center, Waco, is geared for you.

"This year's convention has been programmed in a streamlined, leaner format. It's shorter, allowing members and delegates to attend to our organization's business without taking too much time away from your own farming and ranching operations," said Texas Farm Bureau President Kenneth Dierschke, a cotton and grain farmer from San Angelo.

The convention timeframe has been condensed to involve more members and encourage delegates to participate in all the organization's important business.

"We'll need feedback from you as to how this works out," Dierschke added.

Dierschke emphasized that the most important business of the convention is adoption of the organization's policy book, which lays out Texas Farm Bureau's marching orders for the coming year.

"This is how we prepare to turn the hopes, dreams and ideas of our members into positive solutions that address the many problems of agriculture. Your participation is not only important, it's vital to our success. As always, I know our delegates take this task seriously and will prepare themselves for a productive delegate session," said Dierschke.

The 2003 convention begins at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6, with the Discussion Meet Contest. This valuable forum provides an opportunity for young producers to discuss issues of importance to agriculture. This contest is not unlike the discussions that take place every morning at the coffee shop, feed store, co-op or grain elevator, when farmers and ranchers meet—but the rewards are much greater. The Discussion Meet is simply the presentation of well thought-out opinions and ideas for the purpose of collective problem-solving. It is simply an exchange of ideas and opinions and an opportunity for contestants to develop their presentation and problem-solving skills.

At 2 p.m., participants in the 2003 Citizenship Seminar, who won their district meets, will speak about the Constitution and Free Enterprise System in the Free Enterprise Speech Semi-Finals. The field will be narrowed and finalists, competing for the high prize of a $4,000 scholarship, will advance to Sunday's competition.

On Sunday, registration, county delegation pictures and the Young Farmer & Rancher Silent auction will be conducted from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. A devotional service is planned for 11 a.m. The Talent Find contest, an entertaining exhibition of talented youths from the 13 districts, will compete for scholarships at 12:30 p.m.

The Miss Texas Farm Bureau Pageant, in which representatives of the 13 districts compete for scholarships, follows at 3 p.m.

Odd numbered districts will nominate a State Board member for a two-year term, along with an American Farm Bureau Federation delegate/alternate, during District Caucuses at 4:30 p.m. At a 6 p.m. awards banquet, Farm Bureau Pioneers, Membership, and YF&R will receive recognition.

On Monday, Dec. 8, registration and county delegation photos resume at 7:30 a.m. At the start of the morning's business session at 8 a.m., President Dierschke will address conferees.

The Ladies Luncheon and Voting Delegate Luncheon are planned for noon Monday. The business session reconvenes at 1:30 p.m. The session will conclude following the election of the TFB President and State Board Members from odd numbered districts.

"While in Waco, we hope you'll take some time to visit our beautiful offices near Lake Waco and the TFB Service Center on Franklin Avenue," said Dierschke. "All Texas Farm Bureau members should be proud of these facilities. They belong to the members and house the operations of the largest and most effective farm organization in Texas."