American Farm Bureau

The American Farm Bureau Annual Meeting begins today in San Antonio.

This is the twentieth year the Georgia Peanut Commission has exhibited here. Our participation has had several benefits. Most of the folks here are not peanut farmers but they are sure peanut consumers so we can remind them the value of peanuts and peanut butter in their diet.

Perhaps as beneficial a result is that we are building a coalition with the largest group of farm families we can anywhere. The AFB staff and leadership all recognize us and are interested in the needs of peanut farmers in Georgia. In Washington our lobbyist and the AFB lobbyist work very well together. Most of all in terms of Farm Bureau we have assured that Georgia President Duval is the first person they ask in a board meeting on a peanut issue and Zippy is a great advocate for us as well as all of Georgia Agriculture.

This year exhibition is difficult because Mark and I had to drive out Thursday afternoon and all day Friday for the Saturday setup. The trip back is even more tedious because exhibits close Monday at 3 and we tear down load up and head part of the way home, probably until about midnight because Tuesday night we have to unload and reload the truck for our journey to Albany Wednesday morning for our board meeting and the setup for Thursday's Peanut Farm Show. But I assure you I believe enough in this meeting that I am more than willing to do that.