Farm Bureau gives back

Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation representatives from throughout the state gathered in New Orleans June 24 - 27 for its 88th annual meeting. The federation, the largest general farm organization representing the state’s farmers, ranchers and rural residents, is a private, non-profit, non-governmental agency offering a unified voice on local, state and national political issues.

Established in 1922, its purpose is to garner input from farmers and ranchers to help Farm Bureau influence farming legislation. The Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation is part of the American Farm Bureau Federation with nearly 150,000 members including farmers, ranchers, rural residents, landowners, agricultural lenders as well as others who take an active interest in the future of Louisiana agriculture.

Highlights from this year’s meeting included a $10,362.51 monetary presentation from Sabine Parish Farm Bureau President Joe DeBose to Ronnie Anderson, president of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation and Ag in the Classroom State Coordinator Lynda Danos. This presentation resulted from the parish’s annual Toledo Bend Fishing and Golf Tournament which raises funds for both the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Foundation and the Ag in the Classroom program. Funds from this project will be used to help finance materials and supplies for educational programs designed to provide students with knowledge and information about the diversified agricultural opportunities in Louisiana and help fund Farm Bureau sponsored college scholarships for deserving students in agriculture related fields. In recent years five Sabine Parish seniors have been selected as scholarship recipients by the Farm Bureau Federation.

The Sabine Parish Farm Bureau Federation was also honored with a Gold Star Award for activities in 2009.

Picture 1: Sabine Parish Farm Bureau President Joe DeBose, center, presents a check totaling $10,362.51 to Ronnie Anderson, President, Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation and Lynda Danos, Ag in the Classroom state coordinator. Monies raised by the local federation benefit the foundation and the state Ag in the Classroom program.

Picture 2: Ronnie Anderson, President of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, right, recently honored the Sabine Parish Farm Bureau Federation during it’s 88th annual statewide meeting. Anderson presented the Gold Star award to Sabine Parish Farm Bureau president Joe Debose for the group‘s year-long efforts.