By Julie Murphree, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Director: State Farm Bureaus were presented awards at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 97th Annual Convention last month in Orlando recognizing their Awards of Excellence achievement and implementation of outstanding programs serving Farm Bureau members in 2015. Arizona Farm Bureau was among the winning Farm Bureaus.  

The Awards for Excellence are awarded to state Farm Bureaus that have demonstrated outstanding achievements in six program areas: Education and Outreach; Leadership Development; Member Services; Membership Initiatives; Policy Development and Implementation and Public Relations and Communications. Arizona Farm Bureau won in all six areas.

Additionally, President’s Awards were presented to states from each membership-size group that achieved quota and demonstrated superiority in the Awards for Excellence categories. Arizona won in Education and Outreach and Public Relations and Communications.

Two key programs within Arizona Farmer Bureau – Fill Your Plate and Ag in the Classroom – were instrumental in helping us win the President’s Award in the areas of Education & Outreach and Public Relations & Communications once again.

A delegation of nearly 40 members from Arizona Farm Bureau made it to Orlando this year to celebrate our wins and cheer on the Young Farmer & Rancher competitions. Additionally, members attended workshops hosted by American Farm Bureau Federation. The weeks’ worth of events culminated in a leadership election held Tuesday, January 12th to determine who the next president for American Farm Bureau would be.

Nearly 40 Arizona Farm Bureau members made it to Orlando for the 97th Annual Meeting of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

One of Arizona’s Young Farmers and Ranchers makes it in the Top 10

Arizona Farm Bureau’s Cassie Lyman was selected in the top ten in the Young Farmers & Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture Award. The Excellence in Agriculture Award recognizes young farmers and ranchers who do not derive the majority of their income from an agricultural operation, but who actively contribute and grow through their involvement in agriculture, their leadership ability and participation in Farm Bureau and other organizations.

Arizona Farm Bureau’s Cassie Lyman (far left) was selected in the top ten in the Young Farmers & Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture Award.

Another participant in Young Farmer & Rancher competitions included Arizona Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer & Rancher Jace Householder. He competed in the Discussion Meet competition and made it into the Sweet Sixteen.

Jace Householder competed in the Discussion Meet and made it into the Sweet Sixteen.

Winners of the Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award, Discussion Meet and Excellence in Agriculture competitions were announced at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 97th Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show. Young farmers and ranchers from around the country competed for the awards by demonstrating knowledge of and achievement in agriculture, as well as commitment to promoting the agriculture industry.

Kevin Rogers Runs for AFBF President

While his bid for American Farm Bureau president was unsuccessful, Arizona Farm Bureau President Kevin Rogers conducted a robust conversation with the three other candidates for AFBF president during a candidate forum while at the Annual Meeting in Orlando. The candidate forum, the brainchild of AFBF Women’s Leadership Chair Sherry Saylor, was hosted by the AFBF Women’s Leadership Committee.

While not successful for his bid for American Farm Bureau President (AFBF), Arizona Farm Bureau President Kevin Rogers made a run for the top spot and enjoyed a robust candidate forum conversation with the other three candidates, Oregon’s Barry Bushue, Georgia’s Zippy Duvall and Indiana’s Don Villwock. Zippy Duvall from Georgia is AFBF’s new president.

Zippy Duvall from Georgia was elected AFBF’s new president. Delegates from all 50 states and Puerto Rico elected the new leader during the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 97th Annual Convention. Scott VanderWal from South Dakota was elected as vice president.

Vincent “Zippy” Duvall is a poultry, cattle and hay producer from Greene County, Georgia, and served as president of the Georgia Farm Bureau for 9 years. Duvall has held numerous leadership positions in Farm Bureau and his local community. He is the 12th president of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Scott VanderWal is a third-generation family farmer from Volga, South Dakota, and has been president of the South Dakota Farm Bureau since 2004.

Next year, American Farm Bureau Federation's Annual meeting comes to Phoenix! Join us in celebrating American and Arizona agriculture. 

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the February 2016 issue of Arizona Agriculture. 

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