Louisville, KY (January 7, 2013) – Just a few weeks after concluding its own annual meeting, a sizeable group of volunteer leaders from Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB) is headed to the 94th annual meeting of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), set for January 13-16 in Nashville, Tennessee. Nearly 500 KFB members are traveling to Nashville to help shape Farm Bureau’s national policy agenda for 2013, take in numerous informational seminars and compete for some of the country’s top agricultural honors in a variety of contests. Set with a theme of “Many Voices, One Vision,” AFBF’s annual meeting is anticipated to draw nearly 8,000 attendees from the 50 state Farm Bureaus and Puerto Rico.

“Member involvement at all levels of the organization is crucial to keeping Farm Bureau influential and effective in protecting the interests of our nation’s farmers,” said KFB President Mark Haney, of Pulaski County, who heads the delegation from Kentucky. “Our delegation’s attendance at the American Farm Bureau annual meeting ensures that Kentucky’s key agricultural issues are voiced and included in the organization’s national policy and priorities for 2013.”

Twenty-six Kentuckians will serve as voting delegates during the business session of the annual meeting. They will join their counterparts from across the nation in debating and adopting policies on key national issues. Kentucky’s priority issues include the federal government’s fiscal policy, a national farm bill, environmental regulations, and farm labor reform.

The Kentucky delegates are: KFB President Mark Haney, Nancy; KFB First Vice President Eddie Melton, Sebree; KFB Second Vice President J. Fritz Giesecke, Horse Cave; Carroll Amyx and Phyllis Amyx, Campton; Alex Barnett, Cynthiana; David L. Campbell, Stanford; David Chappell, Sparta; Randy Chrisman, Lawrenceburg; Jay Coleman, Cave City; Terry Gilbert, Danville; Pat Henderson, Irvington; Bige Hensley, Manchester; Glenn Howell, Fulton; Mary Kate Kordes, Central City; Joe Paul Mattingly, Rawick; Kim McCoy, Burkesville; David McGlone, Grayson; Jason McGlone, Grayson; Russell Poore, Russellville; Terry Rowlett, Campbellsburg; Larry Thomas, Elizabethtown; Scott Travis, Cox’s Creek; Danny Wilkinson, Columbia; Holden Williams, Bays; and Shane Wiseman, Winchester.

Additionally, Boyle County’s Terry Gilbert, chair of the AFBF Women’s Committee and member of both the state and national Farm Bureau boards, will preside over a variety of women’s activities at the annual meeting.

Several of Kentucky’s state-level winners will also vie for top honors against competitors from around the country. KFB will be represented in the Young Farmer & Rancher Achievement Award competition by Ryan and Misty Bivens of LaRue County, in the Excellence in Agriculture contest by Greg and Contessa Harris of Madison County, in the Discussion Meet by Stacy Vincent of Fayette County, and in the County Activities of Excellence contest by Mercer County Farm Bureau. Greg and Contessa Harris were additionally named 2013-15 members of AFBF’s Young Farmer & Rancher Committee. Their term officially begins on March 1, 2013.

For additional information regarding the AFBF annual meeting in Nashville, visit annualmeeting.fb.org.