Dave McClure, past president of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation, long-time member and past president of Fergus County Farm Bureau and active advocate for agriculture, received the Distinguished Service Award from the Montana Farm Bureau during the MFBF Awards Banquet November 10 in Billings.
On the nomination form, Fergus County Farm Bureau President Dennis Descheemaeker noted that McClure has been involved in production agriculture from a young age. McClure raised—and continues to raise–cattle and crops at his ranch north of Lewistown. He became president of Fergus County Farm Bureau in 1968 and served intermittently for the next 17 years. In 1987 he was elected President of the Montana Farm Bureau, a position he served for 21 years. With McClure at the helm, the MFBF membership increased from 3,315 families to 13,700 with the budget increasing from $248,000 to an impressive $1.5 million.
McClure’s scope was not only statewide, but national and international. He served on the board of the American Farm Bureau for five years as well as on the Mountain West Farm Bureau and Farm Bureau Life boards. He traveled on trade missions to Japan, China, Argentina and Cuba, to name a few. Trade issues have always been especially important to McClure.
Being active in organizations was crucial to the 77-year-old rancher. He has served on the Fergus County Fair Board, the ASCS Committee where funds were approved for disaster loans to farmers and was Chair of the Ag Research Committee. He currently serves on the Mountain States Legal Foundation board and is involved with their work preserving private property rights.
McClure was named Montana State University’s Outstanding Ag Leader in 2002. During his 21 years as state Farm Bureau president, MFBF received 19 President’s Awards, 21 AFBF Quota Awards, 78 Gold Star Awards for state programs and 25 Awards for Excellence.
“I’m very humbled to receive this award, and I couldn’t have done it without my wife, Joyce, who took care of the ranch through all those years I was traveling and attending meetings,” McClure noted. “I’m proud to have been part of the Montana Farm Bureau’s success.”
Above left: Distinguished Service Award Winner Dave McClure (left) with Montana Farm Bureau President Hans McPherson.
Above right: MFBF Young Farmer and Rancher Discussion Meet Winner Cali Rooney and her new Polaris Ranger.
Cali Rooney, a young rancher from Big Timber, bested three other competitors to win the Montana Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmer and Rancher Discussion Meet. She got the keys to a Ranger® 570 EFI and an all-expense paid trip to compete in the national competition in New Orleans in January. The three other contestants were Joel LaLiberty from Belgrade, Lacey Sutherlin from Stevensville and Mark Boyd from Alder. The Discussion meet was held November 8 during the MFBF 99th Annual Convention in Billings.
The Discussion Meet, which is open to Farm Bureau members age 18-35, is meant to simulate a committee meeting with ideas discussed and solutions developed. The question for the final round: In our modern world, the rapid dissemination of information and opinion about agriculture and food technologies can make it difficult to distinguish fact from fiction. Given these challenges, how can Farm Bureau best protect farmers’ and ranchers’ access to production technology options?”
In the discussion, Rooney said that early education about the truth and science behind agriculture is an effective way to reach consumers at a young age. The fifth-generation rancher noted that farmers in the U.S. produce the cleanest and safest food supply in the world due to technology, and added that she is excited about the challenge to produce food for the future.
“I enjoyed participating in the Discussion Meet because of the different perspectives I heard from the other contestants,” Rooney said, adding that she has a long-time Farm Bureau legacy having participated in the Montana Farm Bureau Foundation Youth Speech Contest, Collegiate Farm Bureau, and coming from a long-time Farm Bureau family.
As for the Utility Vehicle, the young rancher was thrilled. “We will put it to use immediately for fencing, working cows and dispensing mineral. It will be worked hard, but it will be loved. I thank Farm Bureau and the Polaris dealers for the opportunity and this amazing prize.”
Chad Adams with Yellowstone Polaris noted that the participating Montana Polaris dealers are proud to be the Discussion Meet sponsor for the fourth year in a row. “We now have 75 percent of the Montana Polaris dealers on board with this program,” said Adams. “It’s great seeing these talented young people involved in agriculture participate in this contest.”
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Ag NewsWire
Montana Farm Bureau Federation
