From
the Field is a bi-monthly column written by Mark Campbell, Farm Bureau
Field Services Director for the Central District. He writes about Farm Bureau
member benefits and County Farm Bureau activities.
Last
week I and all of the other field staff attended the 2015 Farm Bureau Southern
Region Field Staff Conference in Gatlinburg, TN. This conference is held every three years in
different locations throughout the southern region which encompasses the states
from Virginia and Kentucky to Texas and Oklahoma. One of the best things about these
conferences and others like it is the networking. The sharing of ideas and experiences with the
same job is always beneficial. I am
proud to report that Virginia Farm Bureau is doing a lot of things right and
have many programs in place that some states are just now getting around to
implementing.
All
of the states are dealing with lower membership numbers compared to a couple of
years ago. Most states are engaging the
existing members more to increase retention.
Arkansas reported that they started doing member appreciation days at
county Farm Bureau offices and they thought this helped strengthen membership. Several county Farm Bureaus in Virginia have
been doing this for years and the staff and members always enjoy it. North Carolina has implemented radio and
highway billboard sign ads across the state to mainly strengthen the image of
Farm Bureau and agriculture in general.
Some states are just now starting anniversary billing for membership
which we have had for a few years.
On
leadership training and development, several states do a regional or state wide
training for new county Farm Bureau directors.
In Virginia, we do one on one training at the county level; usually
right before the monthly board of directors meeting. This has worked well for all involved as it
limits travel and time away from the farm for the volunteers. Most states have a yearly conference for
county Farm Bureau presidents. Texas has
theirs in conjunction with a commodity conference.
Several
other states have the Member Deals Plus program but it has a different name in
each state. Similar to what we have been
doing the past year, Arkansas is making a concerted effort to add businesses to
the program in each county to give the program more value to the members. We had a contest this spring at Sales
Conference and at the VFB Women’s Conference where we received over 200 referrals. We have also analyzed existing programs to
determine to continue with them or not.
Under
the promotion category, I liked what Florida does. Several counties in the state cook or cater
meals for the county fair livestock exhibitors and their families. They recognized that meals over several days
at a fair can be expensive on a family.
So they provide meals to the exhibitor families for $3.00/person. It is their way of helping to promote agriculture. In Virginia, several county Farm Bureaus pay
for a dinner for livestock exhibitors and buyers, provide t-shirts, or purchase
animals. Florida also promotes the
Bonnies Plants scholarship program for 3rd graders on the best and biggest
cabbage. This has been well received by
students and teachers and ties in with their Ag in the Classroom program.
It
was good to hear some new ideas, and good to know that many of those things are
already taking place in Virginia.
However, we are always looking to be more effective, efficient, and
providing value to our members. So if
you have any ideas, feel free to contact one of the field staff.
Until
next time,
Mark
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