Montana Farm Bureau Annual Convention

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The Montana Farm Bureau Federation’s 92nd Annual Convention and Trade Show is underway in Missoula at the Hilton Garden Inn.

The Northern Ag Network’s Russell Nemetz is in Western Montana and has these highlights from the convention.

Discussion Meet Winner

Seth Broesder, a farmer and rancher from Conrad,  won the Montana Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmer and Rancher Discussion Meet . 

The Discussion Meet is meant to simulate a committee meeting with ideas discussed and solutions developed. 

Other competitors included Breahna Patten, Jeff Sather, Jennifer Bergin and Bridger Wayman. The subject: Are the current and proposed renewable energy policies beneficial to all segments of American agriculture?

Seth talks about the competition and the excitement that lies ahead representing Montana at the national level this January in Hawaii.

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Wild Bison

The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has heard loud and clear that ranchers in Montana are opposed to a proposed wild bison herd somewhere in Montana.

Montana Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Hanson explains why.

Young Farmer and Rancher Committee

It’s been a busy week for the YF & R Committee. Activities have included the Hoofin it for Hunger 5K Race/Walk and Discussion Meet just to mention a couple.

Peter Taylor, a rancher from Kirby, Montana is the YF & R Chairman and talks about the committee.

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Relationships on Farms and Ranches

The Univeristy of Nebraska’s Dr. Ron Hanson says communication between couples on farms and ranches is vitally important to keeping the relationship alive and strong.

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He also has this advice for families dealing with succession and coming up with a plan for passing on the farm or ranch to the next generation.

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Ag Safety Program

The Montana Ag Safety Program works with Montana’s 8 Ag Organizations including the Montana Farm Bureau Federation to help farmers and ranchers develop and implement an Ag Safety Program on their operation.

Gene Surber is one of the Montana Ag Safety Program Coordinators and talks about the program.

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Brand Renewal

Time is running out for more than 23,000 holders of Montana brands who have not yet rerecorded their brands.

The Montana Department of Livestock says those who fail to meet the December 31, 2011, rerecord deadline will lose their brands.

This week the Montana Department of Livestock’s Executive Officer Christain MacKay attended the Montana Farm Bureau Convention and shared these details on how to rerecord your brand.

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Brands can be rerecorded online at www.rerecord.mt.gov.

Farm Bill Discussion

As members of the Super Committee in Congress wrestle with finding $1.2 trillion in budget cuts, Farm Bureau is working hard to make sure that Agriculture is well represented in those talks.

One of the featured presenters at this year’s annual convention was the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Mary Kay Thatcher.

This week in a radio interview, she explained to Russell Nemetz  what Agriculture is looking at in terms of cuts and who the industry’s ally is on the Super Committee.

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Bruce Wright is the Montana Farm Bureau Federation’s Vice President. He and his family farm near Belgrade, MT.

At the convention, he explained what a farm bill means to both rural and urban Montanans.

Emerging Equine Diseases

Dr. Peter Heidmann is with the Montana Equine Medical and Surgical Center near Three Forks, MT.

He was a presenter during the Equine Seminar and talked about what horse owners need to be aware of.

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Water Law

In the “Old West” it was often said that “whiskey was made for drinking and water was made for fighting.” Well truth be told not much as changed here in the 21st Century.

In 2005, the Montana Legislature asked the DNRC to get every water right clain examined by 2015 and the Water Court to get a decree in every basin by 2020.

Montana Chief Water Judge Bruce Loble says the water adjudication process is well underway and explains what a water right really is.

Farm Bureau Committment

It’s not everyday someone can say that they’ve attended the Montana Farm Bureau Federation Convention for 53 years; but that’s the case with Decker, MT rancher John Young.

This week he talked with Russell Nemetz about what Farm Bureau means to him.

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Hoofin’ it for Hunger

This year the Montana Farm Bureau Federation partnered with the Montana Food Bank Network for a very special event.

 

Montana Tax Reappraisal Lawsuit

A court considering the agricultural reappraisal case has denied a motion for class certification by signing an order virtually identical to the proposed order submitted by the department of revenue.

The plantiffs in the case are the Lucus Ranch, Montana Farm Bureau Federation and Montana Taxpayers Association. In the order, the court essentially determined that the phase in problems must be addressed on a case by case basis.

Bob Hanson is the President of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation and talks about the court’s decision.

The plantiffs in teh case are currently looking at their options and suggest that producers that hope to benefit from an eventual decision in this case should protest a portion of their property taxes when they pay.

Speech Contest-Senior Division

Jack Jennaway, a sophomore at Melstone Public Schools, won the Montana Farm Bureau Federation Speech Contest, Senior Division, during the Montana Farm Bureau Annual Convention in Missoula.  The Senior Division is open to youths 14-18 years old.

During his speech, the 15-year-old addressed the topic, “As a future agricultural leader, where do you see yourself in the agriculture community in the future?”  “In six years I’ll have a major in communications with minors in agriculture and psychology. I will be working at a rural broadcasting station, serving in politics, or giving lectures around the country on behalf of farmers and ranchers,” Jennaway said.

He pointed out that addressing misconceptions are an important part of communicating about agriculture, “The environmentalists see ranchers and farmers as evil, heartless people who till up the land and disturb the natural order of things for their own benefit. We seem to turn their faces red, not green,” he noted in his speech. “The reality is that we care for the country, just like Montana Farm Bureau’s motto says.”

Jennaway won $400 for his first place win. Second place, senior division, went to Rosalyn Kutsch, a 14-year-old student at Bozeman High School, while Brenna Glidewell , a 10th grade home schooled student from Lolo, received third place.

In her speech, Rosalyn said that Montana farmers are stepping up to the plate to grow gluten-free wheat. “Agriculture must change and flex to the problems we face today, and constantly adjust to meet them. As a future member of the agriculture community, I believe spreading awareness about beneficial crops is the way to proceed,” Kutsch said.

Glidewell addressed the meaning of agriculture and spoke about the three visionaries in agriculture: John Deere, George Washington Carver and  Jim Davis, the creator of Garfield the cat cartoon, who was quoted as saying, “Anyone who does not have a good work ethic before joining 4-H certainly does afterwards.”

The Speech Contest is an annual event hosted by the Montana Farm Bureau Foundation, which gives $1500 in prize money to first, second and third place winners in two divisions. The MFB Foundation’s mission is to support Montana agriculture through education, research and community support, with a special emphasis on the development of youth. The Montana Farm Bureau Convention runs Nov. 6-9 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Missoula.

Speech Contest-Youth Division

Sheridan Johnson, a seventh grade student at Utterback Middle School in Conrad, won the Montana Farm Bureau Federation Speech Contest, Junior Division, during the Montana Farm Bureau Annual Convention in Missoula.  The Junior Division is open to youths under 14 years of age.

During her speech, the 12-year-old addressed the topic, “As a future agricultural leader, where do you see yourself in the agriculture community in the future?”  “I am hoping to become a successful farmer,” said Johnson. “Part of that success will include significant involvement in agricultural organizations such as the Montana Farm Bureau. My involvement with these organizations will be an important step in making changes occur.  Some of those changes include getting rid of laws that negatively impact the way we farm or ranch, and creating more processing options for agricultural producers.”

She explains, “Agriculture could be made stronger by creating lots of opportunities to process agricultural products. I would like to work with my community leaders to build a bakery that uses Golden Triangle Wheat. Bio-fuels like ethanol, bio-diesel and bio-lubricants could be great opportunities for growth in Montana.”

Johnson won $400 for his first place win. Second place, junior division, went to Garett Prince, a 12-year-old student at Drummond High School, while Eli Kutsch, an 11-year-old from Bozeman, received third place.

In his speech, Prince blasted the U.S. Department of Labor’s proposal to limit youth under the age of 16 from working agricultural jobs. “The Department of Labor’s reason for these new policies is that kids like me, the ones under 16, lack the cognitive ability to perform this task. I find this totally insulting. I have been working with animals, operating machinery and riding horses all my life and suddenly my AGE is what determines “cognitive ability?’” He added that the law would prohibit the working with and showing 4-H animals such as steers and horses. “This would essentially kill the 4-H program,” he stated.

Kutsch talked about his recent visit to the pumpkin farm. “To strengthen agriculture in Montana, we need to remember to keep kids and families involved in local farms so that kids have a place to learn about food and how is it grown,” the 11-year-old said.

The Speech Contest is an annual event hosted by the Montana Farm Bureau Foundation, which gives $1500 in prize money to first, second and third place winners in two divisions. The MFB Foundation’s mission is to support Montana agriculture through education, research and community support, with a special emphasis on the development of youth. The Montana Farm Bureau Convention runs Nov. 6-9 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Missoula.

Posted by Northern Ag Network

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