MANHATTAN –  More than 1,000 Farm Bureau members in Kansas will gather in Manhattan Monday through Wednesday for their organization’s 94th Annual Meeting.
Most activities will be held at the new Hilton Garden Inn and Manhattan Convention Center, and will feature cutting-edge workshops, discussion of important public policy issues and a one-day meeting tailored to county leaders.
On Monday, county leaders will come together and learn how to build connections with consumers. Presenters from the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance, including Kansan Erika Bowser-Poppelreiter, will discuss issues consumers want to know most about, and offer ways farmers and ranchers can connect with their customers about food and agriculture.  
On Tuesday, Annual Meeting workshops begin at 8 am and continue throughout the day. Workshop topics include crop insurance and risk management, Kansas animal agriculture, succession planning and animal disease traceability.  Awards will be presented to county Farm Bureaus for their work in 2012, and county coordinators will be recognized for years of service. Young Farmers & Ranchers contest winners will also be announced.
At the evening banquet, in addition to keynote addresses, the Peterson brothers of Assaria, Kansas, will accept an award for excellence in agricultural education and promotion for their viral video “I’m Farming and I Grow It,” which has received more than 7 ½ million views on YouTube. Ten Kansas farm families will be recognized for their service to Farm Bureau and their communities, along with an award for Natural Resources.
On Wednesday, more than 400 voting delegates will adopt policy statements for 2013. Farmer and rancher leaders will discuss a range of topics including water, animal care and school finance.
An agenda is available online at www.kfb.org/news/kfbeventcalendar/kfb-summit-annual-meeting.html.
Highlights of the Kansas Farm Bureau 94th Annual Meeting:

Monday, Summit Leadership Conference for County leaders
8:15 Registration opens and silent auction begins accepting items
9  – 9:50  General Workshops
10:30 – 11:30   Keynote, U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance

Tuesday, Annual Meeting
7:30 a.m.  Registration, tradeshow and silent auction begin
8 Workshops
9:  Workshops           
1:15  General Session
6:30 Annual Meeting Banquet and Awards

Wednesday, Voting Delegate Session         
8:30 Business Session
Kansas Farm Bureau represents grassroots agriculture. Established in 1919, this non-profit advocacy organization supports farm families who earn their living in a changing industry.