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Texas Farm Bureau delegates will gather in San Antonio for their 71st annual convention, Dec. 4-6, with a record membership and an agenda to set policy for the state's largest farm organization.
Texas Farm Bureau President Kenneth Dierschke, a San Angelo cotton and grain farmer, announced a new membership high of 383,204 member families, an addition of 11,884 members over last year's record.
The adoption of the organization's policy book, which lays out Texas Farm Bureau's vision for the coming year, is the most important business of the upcoming convention, Dierschke said.
"We have many issues to address," he said. "Getting our policy in shape for a new legislative session and a new Congress is of critical importance to the organization. Our leaders have always been up to the task."
The 2004 convention begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4, with the Free Enterprise Speech Contest. Finalists, selected from 13 district winners, will speak about the Constitution and Free Enterprise System, competing for the high prize of a $4,000 scholarship.
Starting at 1 p.m. will be the Discussion Meet Contest, a valuable forum that provides an opportunity for young farmers and ranchers to discuss issues of importance to agriculture.
Youth contests will be completed on Saturday with winners named for the Talent Find and Miss Texas Farm Bureau contests.
The convention continues on Sunday, Dec. 5, with a presentation on the progress of a two-year study, conducted by the American Farm Bureau Federation, that looks at the future of U.S. agriculture policy.
Following will be various awards including Farm Bureau Pioneers, Membership and Young Farmers and Ranchers, and an address by TFB President Dierschke Sunday afternoon, capped that evening with District Caucuses. U.S. Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn have also been invited to speak to the delegates.
The business session, where Farm Bureau delegates will debate, discuss and adopt policy, will be held Monday. The convention will conclude that evening following the election of the TFB President and state board members from even numbered districts.
All events will be held at the Marriott Riverwalk or Marriott Rivercenter hotels.
