Hundreds of Iowans who are involved in agriculture will be attending this week’s annual Iowa Farm Bureau Meeting in Des Moines. Laurie Johns, spokeswoman for the West Des Moines-based organization, says the event runs Wednesday and Thursday. Several hundred members and associate members are expected at the annual meeting for the meetings, food, networking with friends and entertainment.
The theme of this year’s meeting is “Treasure Our Resources” and will focus on several workshops during the two-day meeting. Break-out discussions will focus on issues like renewing rural Iowa, farm taxes in 2011 and possibilities for the next farm bill in Congress. Johns says many Iowa farmers are concerned about how a variety of factors will be impacting that important piece of legislation.
The sessions centered around the 2012 farm bill are especially key for a lot of farmers who are wondering what’s going to happen in light of the elections and the national budget deficit. Johns says several awards will be given out during the meeting, including the Young Farmer Achievement Award.
Also, one of the hosts of the TV program “American Pickers” will be in attendance as he lives in LeClaire, just north of Davenport. The meeting will be held at the Polk County Convention Center in downtown Des Moines. For more information, visit: www.iowafarmbureau.com.
By Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City