Almost 300 voting delegates representing 88 county Farm Bureaus statewide have gathered in Richmond to help shape
Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s state and federal policies for the coming
year.
During this year’s VFBF Annual Convention, those delegates will discuss and
vote on numerous policies that affect farmers and their livelihoods.
“This is the culmination of our grassroots policy development process,” said
VFBF President Wayne F. Pryor, “and whatever is decided at the annual
convention directs our lobbying efforts in the new year.”
Policy development is just one part of the convention, which will run Dec. 3-5
at the Richmond Marriott. The event’s theme is “Leading Agriculture into the
Future.”
The convention kicked off Tuesday with a keynote address by Mark Gold,
president, CEO and managing partner of Top Third Ag Marketing and a former
member of the Chicago Board of Trade. Gold will speak on “Managing Risk in an
Inherently Risky Business.”
“I’m very optimistic about farming, but there will be bumps in the road and
farmers need to learn how to survive the cycles and not sell their land for
parking lots or subdivisions,” Gold said.
His Top Third Ag Marketing’s mission is to help farmers manage the risks
associated with producing commodities such as grains, livestock, milk, cotton
and energy. The company’s goal is to help its customers market their products
in the top third of prices available during a market year.
Gold also led an afternoon workshop titled “Get What’s Coming to You:
Risk Management for Every Farmer.” A second workshop, “Things You Need to Know
About Transporting Farm Products in Virginia,” featured speakers from the
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles and the Virginia State Police.
During the business sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, voting delegates will
elect members of the VFBF board of directors to represent Districts 3, 6, 9 and
12.
Throughout the convention, members can take advantage of a “Cyber CafĂ©” to get
help with any technology needs they might have.

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