MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Agricultural leaders from 47 County Farm Bureau chapters across South Carolina will gather in Myrtle Beach Thursday, November 30 until Saturday, December 2 for the 74th Annual Meeting of the South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation (SCFB).
The meeting will highlight achievements of members and legislators over the past year, and provide an outlook on the future of agriculture in South Carolina with the theme “Farm Forward.” The three-day conference will be headquartered at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Kingston Plantation.
Highlights of the annual meeting include a keynote speech from Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation; a state-of-the-bureau address from SCFB President Harry Ott; an awards program recognizing more than 100 individual members and Farm Bureau chapters; and numerous agricultural education sessions for members.
“As an organization, we strive to work together with communities, consumers and the General Assembly to assure a positive and sound future for South Carolina agriculture,” said Ott. “Our annual meeting allows us to bring these groups of people together in celebration, and gives us an opportunity to discuss important topics that shape our families and neighborhoods.”
Thursday, Nov. 30, the SCFB Ag in the Classroom Golf Benefit, sponsored by the SCFB Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee, will kick off the meeting at the Arcadian Shores Golf Club. Thursday evening, an estimated crowd of 1,000 SCFB members and supporters will gather at Marriott Grande Dunes
Hotel for dinner and the Legislative Awards Ceremony, including the SCFB Legislator of the Year awards and the SCFB Grassroots Legislative All-Star awards.
Friday, Dec. 1, will begin with the opening general session talk from Duvall, followed by various afternoon educational sessions. Educational sessions include topics on the farm bill, crop insurance, industrial hemp, the western water capacity use area, interactive cooking and drone demonstrations, and workshops providing credits for pesticide applicators.
The Voting Delegate session on Saturday, Dec. 2 will be the main business part of the convention, when delegates will consider resolutions and recommendations to be adopted as official SCFB policy for the coming year, and elect officers.
Meeting attendees are also invited to the Big Farm Show outside the Embassy Suites Hotel in the Lakeside Pavilion tent, featuring various agricultural vendors and member benefit displays; the Country Store, sponsored by the SCFB Women’s Leadership Program; the silent auction, co-sponsored by the Women’s Leadership Committee and Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee; Junior and Senior Talent Contests and the SCFB Ambassador Contest at the Marriott Grande Dunes; SCFB Young Farmers and Ranchers Discussion Meet; and SCFB Young Farmers and Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture presentations.
SCFB is a grassroots, non-profit organization celebrating and supporting family farmers, locally grown food, and our rural lands through legislative advocacy, education, and community outreach. The organization, founded in 1944, serves more than 100,000 member families in 47 chapters. For more information, or to become involved, please visit www.scfb.org.
–South Carolina Farm Bureau
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