Promoting agriculture and educating the public about its importance is what we are all about. Insuring an accurate message about agriculture is delivered to those not involved in farming. This program works with teachers, students and Farm Bureau leaders in a variety of ways.

Diane Olson, Director, Promotion & Education  573.893.1414   dolson@mofb.com
Julie Waldrop, Assistant   573.893.1417   jwaldrop@mofb.com

FARM FACT: America's farmers are the world's most productive.
Today, each U.S. farmer produces enough food and fiber for 155 people.

Meet the Committee

Working to strengthen Missouri Farm Bureau and provide leadership development for all members.





Ambassadors Selected at MFBF Annual Meeting

Taylor Huhmann, Tipton, and Thomas Mershon, Lee’s Summit, are MFB's 2010 Ambassadors. Congratulating them during the MFB Annual Meeting in December was MFB President Charles Kruse, left.


A panel of judges selected Taylor Huhmann of Tipton, Mo., and Thomas Mershon of Lee's Summit, Mo., as 2010 Missouri Farm Bureau Ambassadors during the organization's 95th annual meeting Dec. 6 at the Lake of the Ozarks. During the contest, judges evaluated students on a written application and oral interview. During the evening banquet program, six finalists presented five-minute speeches and extemporaneously responded to a question.

Huhmann represented the Moniteau County Farm Bureau. Her parents are Brian and JoAnn Huhmann. She is a freshman at the University of Missouri-Columbia majoring in agricultural education and plans to pursue a master's degree in animal science. Huhmann is involved in the Ag Ed Society, Mizzou FFA and Independent Aggies. Her family farm operation consists of turkey and beef production, as well as custom combining. Her father also works as a crop insurance agent.

Mershon represented Jackson County Farm Bureau and is the son of Bruce and Tracey Mershon. He is a sophomore at the University of Missouri-Columbia where he is a member of the Collegiate Farm Bureau chapter. His family farms 1,900 acres of row crops and raises 750 head of beef cattle annually. Mershon has worked on the family farm, but has also interned with Cummins Consulting.

As ambassadors, Huhmann and Mershon each receive a $1,250 educational scholarship, travel to Washington, D.C., in March on a Farm Bureau legislative trip, and represent Farm Bureau at the Missouri State Fair and other events in 2010 to promote agriculture.

The Ambassador program is sponsored by the Missouri Farm Bureau Promotion and Education Committee. Scholarship funds come from the Missouri Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. Here is a listing of some of our previous Ambassadors. Contact your county Farm Bureau for additional information and the Ambassador Program entry form.


Youth Leadership Day

Farm Bureau's Youth Leadership Day (YLD) was held on March 25 at the MFB Center in Jefferson City.

This year's YLD found 349 high school students along with their chaperons from 56 counties in attendance at the 16th annual Missouri Farm Bureau (MFB) Youth Leadership Day. Some chaperons and students woke up before 5 a.m. for the trip to Jefferson City, said Diane Olson, Director of Farm Bureau’s Promotion & Education Programs that hosted the event.

 

After arrival at the MFB Center and a short orientation, students are bused to the State Capitol to observe action in the House and Senate. Students learn about the importance of sharing their views with legislators. During their visit to the Capitol, most students are able to actually visit with legislators from their districts.

Students then return to the MFB Center. The high school students learn about Farm Bureau's youth programs, such as the MFB Ambassador and Collegiate FB programs.

After lunch, students heard from MFB President Charles Kruse and Zach Kinne, past FFA president from Eagleville, Missouri.

 

 More than 300 high school students attend this one-day seminar in Jefferson City. After a visit to the State Capital, students return to the MFB Center to learn more about citizenship and involvement.

Students gain an understanding of the importance of becoming informed and involved citizens. Additionally they focus upon the agricultural and rural issues that impact our state.




Thank A Farmer Week

Thank a Farmer Week, February 7-13, is a celebration of the U.S. food supply as provided by America’s farmers and ranchers. Within the first two months of the year, the average American will have earned enough income to pay for their annual food supply. It takes until late April to earn enough to pay for local, state, and federal taxes.

Despite increases in early 2009, food prices have stabilized and in some instances dropped. Much of the increase was related to the escalating cost of energy. Remember the crude oil price topping $140 per barrel impacting fuel prices? Add increased labor costs of approximately 19% to the mix and it all trickles down to the consumer in higher food prices.

Of every retail dollar spent for food, 81 cents goes for marketing expenses. This includes processing, packaging, wholesaling, distributing, transporting, and retailing food products. The remaining 19 cents goes back to the farmer who uses it to pay for operating costs in providing raw products for food. The farmer’s share is used to purchase farm equipment, fertilizer, fuel, seed, feed and other imput costs.

Thank a Farmer Week is an appropriate time to ‘thank a farmer’! As a career, they have chosen to spend their livelihood providing food and fiber for our nation and abroad.

Carolyn Koenigsfeld was one of serveral Farm Bureau volunteers handing out "Thank a Farmer" boxes of candy at legislative offices in the building. The boxes for legislators included Farm Facts information. A breakfast hosting by MFB for the House and Senate Agriculture Committees was held earlier the same morning.

   

Several Farm Bureau volunteers, from Jasper and surrounding counties delivered food donations to the Joplin Ronald McDonald House. Tara Horinek, pictured in front of the group, accepted the donations on behalf of the house. She says it is the largest single food donation the Joplin RMH receives annually. RMHs in Kansas City, Springfield and Columbia also received donations-- all delivered during Thank a Farmer Week. These and other activities by county Farm Bureaus highlighted the fact that U.S. consumers still have a safe, abundant and affordable food supply compared to any other country in the world.


 



Agricultural Safety & Awareness Program (ASAP)

Farmers and ranchers must work safely any time of the year, but safety comes to the forefront as farmers are making plans for the planting season. For 2010, March 7-13 was designated as ASAP WEEK  to remind farmers the importance of safety in their farming operation.Learn more about ASAP.

 

To find more information on prevention & safety check out:

 

 

 Ag Foundations & Ag Literacy

 
Farm Bureau offers several venues to build awareness, understanding, and a positive public perception of agriculture through education. Agriculture foundations help fund and promote ways to tell the story of agriculture. WebQuests, which can be found on this web site, enables teachers to incorporate agricultural themes in their lesson plans. To learn more about what Farm Bureau is doing for ag literacy, explore the links below.
 

You can help us promote ag education by donating to the foundations listed. Your donations help fund Mini Grant projects, scholarships, and agricultural literacy projects.