TOPSTORIES STORIES TOP
June 2016
All about leadership
Lewis & Clark County Farm Bureau’s Mike and Jeannie Murphy pose with a student and L&C President Karl Christians at the ATV Safety Training in Helena.
Animal Ag Alliance tackles tough issues What do consumers want? Not what some marketers think. At the Animal Ag Alliance’s 2016 Stakeholder’s Summit May 5-6 in Arlington, VA, a panel of consumers said they want their produce and meat to be fresh and smell good, but didn’t mention antibiotics or GMOs as a concern. Montana Farm Bureau Government Affairs Director Nicole Rolf noted, “These panelists were unaware who the audience was. They were asked different questions about their perception of food and what they looked for when shopping,” explained Rolf. “In addition to quality and freshness, many panelists noted that they look for specific brands and certain marketing terms that give them the perception of healthier food. Even the panelists who stated they looked for organic or free range or some other
label admitted they find the labels to be confusing and somewhat undefined. Many were skeptical of the label claims.” The speaker Yvette D’Entremont, blogger and science advocate known as the “Sci Babe,” gave her perspective on myth-busting and the anti-science movement. “She said the internet is rife with misinformation,” explained Rolf. “When she finds memes, posts and articles that are anti-science and blatantly wrong, D’Entremont refutes them. She said people don’t understand the food system and are getting their information from everyone but farmers.” One disturbing topic was that the animal rights movement has started to use religion to advance their animal rights agenda. For the full story visit www.mfbf. org/newsroom.
Leaders from the Montana Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) attended the American Farm Bureau Federation State Program Leaders Conference April 30-May 4 in Washington, D.C. The conference brought together chairs and staff of the Women’s Leadership Committee (WLC) and the Promotion & Education Committee (P&E). MFB WLC Gretchen Schubert said one informative workshop was dedicated to working with legislative staffs and lobbyists. “We asked if our messages get to the senator or representative when we talk to them. They responded sometimes yes, sometimes no, but keep trying,” Schubert said. “It’s important to make appointments to meet with them whether you’re in D.C. or when they are back in our home state.” Continued on page 2.
Members and a free truck
Is there is such thing as a free lunch and such a thing as a free truck? Yes! Farm Bureau has worked out all sorts of ways you can get entry forms to win a 1500 Chevy Silverado. Test drive a truck at a participating Chevy dealer. Recruit a new member and both of you will receive a bonus entry. How does it work? Twenty-five entries will be drawn prior to the MFBF annual meeting in November 2016. Those 25 will not only win free registration to the 2016 Annual Convention, but the winner of the Chevy Silverado will be drawn from those 25 entries at the awards banquet. For more information, including a list of participating Chevy dealers, visit http:// mfbf.org.