88th Annual Meeting of the Washington Farm Bureau

Washington Farmers Re-elect Steve Appel to Lead Farm Bureau

SPOKANE - Voting delegates at the Washington Farm Bureau (WFB) annual meeting on Nov. 15 elected Steve Appel, a wheat and barley grower from Whitman County, to lead them into 2008.

Appel has served as WFB president since November 1994.

A third-generation farmer, Appel also serves as vice president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, the nation's largest general farm organization with more than 6 million members. Appel is a graduate of Washington State University.

Britt Dudek, an apple and cherry grower from East Wenatchee, was elected to serve a second term as first vice president for legislation. In this role, Dudek oversees the organization's legislative efforts and activities. Dudek, who has been active in Farm Bureau since 1994, is a graduate of the University of Washington with a bachelor's of science degree in mechanical engineering.

Delegates elected Dean Farrens to a ninth term as second vice president, responsible for overseeing the organization's policy development process. Farrens manages a 1,500-acre family-owned farm in Walla Walla County, growing wheat and dry peas. A graduate of Washington State University with a degree in history and education, he taught school in Prosser and Walla Walla before turning to farming full-time in 1974.

Held at the Spokane Convention Center, 329 attendees, including 223 voting delegates, represented 25 counties at the 88^th WFB Annual Meeting. In addition to electing officers and Board members, the delegate body voted on policy changes regarding the Shorelines Management Act, eminent domain, and climate change.  The Board of Directors adopted the framework for the Farm Bureau's 2008 public policy agenda, which outlines WFB's legislative priorities. The public policy agenda will be available for download from the WFB website (http://www.wsfb.com/) at the first of the year.

Washington Farm Bureau Honors Legislators of the Year

Senator Jim Honeyford (15th District, Sunnyside), Representative Cary Condott (12th District, East Wenatchee), and Representative Joel Kretz (7th District, Wauconda) were each named "Legislator of the Year" at the Washington Farm Bureau (WFB) annual meeting on Nov. 14.

WFB's Board of Directors awards one or more state legislators with the honor of being the organization's Legislator of the Year. A legislator's vote record and outstanding actions to help strengthen family farms are key criteria for receiving this award.

All three were chosen for their tireless efforts to protect the interests of farmers and ranchers throughout Washington state. These legislators didn't hesitate to take on the difficult issues impacting agriculture in our state, often amidst heated debates.

"Standing Up for Washington" was the theme of the 88th Annual Meeting of the Washington Farm Bureau.

Among the highlights of the annual meeting were the President's Annual Address; Fox television commentator John Kasich and his presentation, "Stand For Something - The Battle for America's Soul"; WFB Banquet; Awards presentations; Issue workshops, including an update on national Animal Identification and a status report on the recent state Supreme Court ruling on property rights and Ruckelshaus Center negotiations; Voting delegate sessions to adopt state policies and national policy recommendations; Matt Roloff, Oregon farmer, entrepreneur and father of the Roloff family featured inthe television program, "Little People, Big World"; Fun Night, featuring a Murder Mystery Theater and the entertainment of the Bar D Wranglers of Durango, Colorado; Young Farmers and Ranchers program contests; and an Exhibitor Trade Show and Farm Bureau Market.

The Employer Services Labor Conference, held Monday, Nov. 12, at the DoubleTree Hotel Spokane City Center, boasted record attendance.

To request a copy of Little Family Big Values or Stand for Something - The battle for America's Soul, contact Margaret Warren or call (800) 331-3276.

Copies are limited and available on a first come, first serve basis.

The 89th Annual Meeting of the Washington Farm Bureau is Nov. 17-20, 2008, in Wenatchee.