Become involved in your Farm Bureau

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I have a saying on the wall in my office that says, “We make a living by what we do, but we make a life by what we give.” I keep this saying posted, so I am reminded that it is easy to get swept away in day to day activities, but what matters most is taking time to give back to the community in which we live.

The Farm Bureau is a membership organization that has long prided itself on the structure of its grassroots structure, meaning that local members are encouraged to make the final decisions about programs and policy. This type of structure most certainly gives its local members the most influential voice of the organization.

So, you may ask, if I have never been involved in the organization before or it has been a while since attending a meeting, how can I start now? Easy! A few years ago the board of directors of the Bureau County Farm Bureau voted to change the committee structures at that time from five committees to four task force structures. The main purpose of this modification in structure was to make the best use of our members’ valuable time. Now, members are asked to attend only two task force meetings a year instead of several committee planning meetings. These two meetings are used to identify and set ideas in motion which will make a positive impact on Bureau County.

Presently the Task Forces include Education, Member Relations, Government and Policy, and Farm Business. The task forces are open to all members. The committees left in place are Young Leaders, Women’s and Prime Timers.

The Education Task Force plans programs around ag literacy. This could include consumers, teachers, students and others in the community. This task force also looks at community networking and farm safety.

The Member Relations Task Force promotes programs which involve member services and benefits, membership communication, membership drives and affiliate company relations.

The Government and Policy Task Force provides program planning for legislative relations and contacts, policy development and also takes a look at local issues affecting those who live and work in Bureau County.

The Farm Business Task Force supports input on programs related to farm business education and information, commodity and general agriculture promotion and economic development.

The Women’s Committee’s purpose is to promote agriculture through education, service and social oriented programs to consumers and their families throughout the county. The goals of the committee are to educate county residents about agricultural issues and awareness through involvement in their county Farm Bureau. They also work to promote farm safety, health and quality of life through their leadership.

The Young Leader Committee is open to all Farm Bureau members ages 18-35. Their function is to promote member involvement in education, service and social oriented programs to young members and their families interested in agriculture. The goals of the committee are to educate young adults about agricultural issues through involvement in their county Farm Bureau and to facilitate networks between young adults interested in the agricultural industry.

The Prime Timer Committee is open to all Farm Bureau members ages 55 or over. The goal of this committee is to promote member involvement in education, service and social oriented programs to older members and their families. The goals of the committee are to educate adults about current issues through involvement in their county Farm Bureau and to facilitate networks between older adults interested in the agricultural industry.

As Farm Bureau members, your involvement in Farm Bureau is essential to the success of this grass roots organization. Please plan to attend these upcoming planning meetings to be held later this summer. Your contribution to these membership programs has everything to do with the success of the organization.

• Women’s Committee planning meeting
at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 11 at Farm Bureau Board Room

• Young Leaders planning meeting at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 31 at Farm Bureau Board Room

• Task Force planning meeting at 5 p.m. Sept. 8 at Wise Guys in Princeton

As you can see, Farm Bureau has something for everyone. Please contact the Farm Bureau office today to let us know you would be interested in taking part in the planning process of Farm Bureau.

If you are not a Farm Bureau member, but would like to learn about membership opportunities, please contact the Farm Bureau office in Princeton. We would be happy to speak with you.

Jill Frueh is the manager at the Bureau County Farm Bureau.