Each year, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation’s members, leadership and staff attend the American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in late January. It’s a chance to learn, compete and celebrate, but while the year is just beginning, this trip to Salt Lake City, Utah actually is the end to a long process.

“There’s not many organizations where you know some little farmer in Sunflower County can voice his opinion and people care about that opinion,” said Adron Belk, Sunflower County row crop farmer. “People will listen to your opinion, and that you are able to maybe get something changed.”

Adron Belk and his wife Betsy, run a row crop operation in the Mississippi Delta. As relatively new members, they are seeing the grassroots advocacy process up close that makes Farm Bureau so unique.

“We’re not only focusing on our problems anymore, we’re hearing you know across the southeast.  Now, we’re talking to somebody in North Dakota and so it’s really broaden our perspective on what’s going on around the country and given us a better feel,” said Belk.

That’s the main goal of bringing farmers from across the country to one location…to make sure Farm Bureau members are taken care of with sound agriculture policy.

“You got to have grassroots in all counties in the U.S., so we can come together with a powerful voice, not just for Mississippians, but for all farmers in the United States to help fix a problem,” said Mike McCormick, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation President.

State’s delegates are based on membership. Mississippi brought ten delegates, and they meet several times this week to work through policy recommendations both from our own membership and other states’. Sue Ann Hubbard from Jeff Davis County is a first time delegate.

“I’ve been on my county board and coming up with these resolutions … and taking them to our state, and then seeing the process there and just kind of wanted to see what was involved,” said Sue Ann Hubbard, jeff Davis County cattle rancher. “And seeing the work that we do at our state level and our county levels and, you know, how it can actually affect policy.”

The policies passed in Jackson at the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting, and in the annual business meeting at the American Farm Bureau Federation Convention give staff and members the guidelines they will use when promoting agriculture at the State Capitol and our nation’s Capitol.

Jones County poultry farmer, Kirby Mauldin says this means all farmers benefit because of the Farm Bureau process.

“Instead of me having one voice as a Farm Bureau member, we have multiple voices.  So, when we go to Washington, D.C.,” said Kirby Mauldin, Jones County poultry farmer. “We carry a group of people.  We have a group going and telling what poultry needs in our area, what cotton farmers need in our area, what every commodity needs.  We have a voice that’s a multitude instead of one person and it makes a tremendous difference.”

Mixing in a little fun, food and fellowship, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation attendees enjoy what makes Utah unique, from the ski slopes, snow and native culture. Another way to promote Farm Bureau to our members, even first time convention goers.

“It’s way more than I expected.  It’s bigger, better than I expected.  Been a lot of great information,” said Phillip Garrison, Madison County cattle rancher.  “Got to watch some of the Young Farmers & Ranchers discussions for the first time.  That was really enjoyable seeing that process and then you’re spending time meeting everybody.  It’s been great.”

But the celebration didn’t end there, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation was one of six states to win an AFBF Horizon Award, honoring the most innovative new state Farm Bureau programs. The Landmark Leadership Council was created in 2023 to engage members 35 to 55 years old and give them the tools to be better grassroots advocates for agriculture.

“They wanted a program for that age group to keep them involved with Farm Bureau, and as we sat down at the table and brainstormed, we came up with the Landmark Leadership Program and it’s going to be something that’ll keep Farm Bureau active in the lives of the young farmers around the state,” said McCormick. “That’s a critical age group to help us generate policy and be great leaders for this organization for the future.”

Now, members head back to their counties, hopefully more energized, to start the process all over again for 2024. One things for certain, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation will be here ready to move agriculture forward.

“The grassroots is how this all got started, and with the advocacy that we have, if we don’t have the grassroots, we’re not going anywhere with what we’re trying to cover and to do, and educate our people about agriculture,” said Betty Mills, State Women’s Leadership Committee Chairperson.

Mike McCormick: “Farm Bureau is gonna get a seat at the table for the smallest guy all the way up to the largest guy, and somewhere in a county board room in twenty‑eight hundred counties around the U.S.,” said McCormick. “Somebody sat down and said we got this problem and this is a policy that we think we can get it fixed with.”