HERSHEY, Pa. — Westmoreland County dairy farmer Richard “Rick” Ebert has been re-elected President of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. Voting delegates from PFB’s 54 county Farm Bureaus selected Ebert, who has served as president of the state’s largest farm organization since November 2014, to another two-year term.
Ebert ran unopposed during PFB’s 68th Annual Meeting in Hershey.
“I’m truly honored by the support I’ve received from farmers across the state and I pledge to always strive to do my best for our members and maintain Pennsylvania Farm Bureau’s status as the most influential farm organization in the state,” said PFB President Rick Ebert.
Ebert, who owns Will-Mar-Re Farms in Blairsville, has been involved with PFB for decades. He served as Vice President for 10 years, a member of the State Board of Directors, State Dairy Committee Chairman and State Policy Development Committee Chair. Earlier in his career, Ebert and his wife Diane were selected the winners of PFB’s Young Farmer & Rancher Achievement Award.
“Looking at the year ahead, I and other farmer leaders will be focused on immediately building good working relationship with newly-elected members of Congress. We’ll especially want to talk with lawmakers who aren’t familiar with agricultural issues and Farm Bureau,” Ebert said.
Ebert also believes there are opportunities to partner more with the non-farm community, especially in rural areas.
“Many of our county Farm Bureaus have expressed an interest in increasing their efforts to get more involved in projects with people from their local communities. I support these efforts and am looking forward to working more closely with our county Farm Bureau volunteers on these projects,” Ebert said.
Hundreds of farmers from across the state attended Pennsylvania Farm Bureau’s 68th Annual Meeting at the Hershey Lodge from Nov. 12-14, to set policy for the statewide organization on issues affecting farm and rural families.
— Pennsylvania Farm Bureau