Every other year the American Farm Bureau Federation offers Target Training at the AFBF home office in Washinton, D.C. One of the benefits of being in the nation’s capital is to gave attendees an opportunity to visit with legislators and talk about issues that affect farmers.
While on Capitol Hill our group met with Dist. 2 Congressmen John Moolenaar and his aides about several current farm issues. We also visited the offices of Congressman Tim Walberg and Senator Alissa Slotkin, discussing the farm bill, farm labor issues and the need for year-round E15 fuel.
The primary focus of Target Training is consumer engagement. We dove deep into consumer trends and topics, using social media to tell agriculture’s story with impact, media skills training and on-camera interview practice.
Our keynote speaker was former NFL lineman Jason Brown, who left pro football to follow his calling to be a farmer. He and his wife Tay and their children farm 1,000 acres in North Carolina. He donates almost everything he grows — mostly sweet potatoes — as part of his purpose-driven journey to feed people in need of healthy food. For more of Brown’s remarkable story, read his book, Centered: Trading Your Plans for a Life That Matters.
Our Michigan delegation including State P&E Chair Alysa Sanford of Jackson County, Dist. 8 Representative Joe Bryant and his wife Beth from Isabella County, Kim Graham from Wayne County in Dist. 3, and myself from Ingham County in Dist. 5. We’d all like to thank MFB P&E Specialist Katie Cooper, who kept us all in line and on time for all our visits and appointments!
Newly appointed AFBF Promotion & Engagement Committee member Katelyn Thompson from Michigan’s Washtenaw County also joined our group after completing her AFBF training earlier in the week.
One benefit of attending an AFBF training is meeting and exchanging ideas with other farmers from across the country. Our P&E team looks forward to sharing and implementing what we learned with our peers across the state.
One fun side adventure during the trip was a visit (between legislator visits) to the U.S. Botanical Gardens on Capitol Hill. More than 200 years ago, George Washington had a vision that every U.S. capital city should feature a botanical garden. Established by Congress in 1820, the national garden is the oldest continuously operating public garden in the country.
Ingham County Farm Bureau member Tami Shaw represents Dist. 5 on MFB's State Promotion & Education Committee.
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