2022 Annual Report

“Farm Bureau Women are resilient in our personal lives as mothers, daughters and sisters as well as in our professional lives. Agriculture is lucky to have women championing for it.”

way. Being rooted

—DANIELLE DAUM, HIGHLANDS COUNTY

“You have to remain rooted in appreciation for times that are good and plentiful. Most importantly, love what you do and love your family.”

—JIM FARLEY, CLAY COUNTY

WE ARE ROOTED IN RESILIENCE …

“A lot of obstacles come our

in resilience gives us strength to continue to put our efforts to being successful in our farming and ranching operations.”

—MATT AND KAYLA GONZALES, LEVY COUNTY

Dear family members,

I am pleased to outline the accomplishments of our grassroots members over the past membership year. The following pages highlight ways our members remained rooted in the future of agriculture across the Sunshine State.

Through the hard work and determination of our county Farm Bureaus, we welcomed 132,534 family members in the 2021-2022 membership year. Eleven county Farm Bureaus were honored with the President’s Award for receiving all six Awards of Excellence in Legislative/Policy Implementation, Public Relations/Information, Organizational Management, Education/Agricultural Promotion, Leadership Development and Membership.

Our members gave back to local communities through food drives and an array of charitable projects. Young Farmers and Ranchers Committees throughout Florida collectively donated 30.5 million pounds of food to the Harvest for All Food Bank. This donation earned the YF&R Leadership Group a first place award at the 2022 AFBF Fusion Conference.

They were also celebrated for their volunteerism by

FROM THE PRESIDENT

tallying the most service hours for a total of 4,510 hours.

The philanthropic spirit of our Women’s Leadership Committee was displayed year-round to such organizations as Ag Angels, Promised Land Family Ministries, Ronald McDonald House Charities and Whispering Meadows Equine Therapy.

Our unified voice for agriculture was on full display at the state and national level. More than 800 guests attended our Taste of Florida Agriculture Reception at the annual Florida Farm Bureau Day. Members visited with elected officials to advocate for state sales tax exemptions, sound water policy and protection of agricultural lands.

Our County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship (CARES) recognition program continued to broaden its reach. We recognized 22 farm families last year for their environmental stewardship and were asked to speak on a national panel on sustainability to highlight the success of the program. To date, more than 900 farm families statewide have been recognized.

Our Agriculture Education Services and Technology program (AEST) delivered more than 24,000 exams to secondary students in Florida and Louisiana.

We heightened our outreach to a non-farm audience by participating in two tailgate events at the University of Florida and Florida State University. Coined The Home Field AGvantage, these events showcased Florida agriculture to football fans. We were able to engage with more than 3,500 visitors for the second year in a row.

I am humbled to be part of such a powerful organization. Our grassroots members are the backbone and passion of Florida Farm Bureau. Thank you for remaining rooted in your communities to serve agriculture.

Respectfully,

22 farmers and ranchers were honored for their environmental stewardship with a CARES Award throughout the state.

FFB Young Farmers and Ranchers donated 30.5 million pounds of food to the Harvest for All food drive competition.

PROUD OF OUR NUMBERS

60%

Our FAMA Buyer’s Club delivered fresh food to Farm Bureau members in 34 states.

22 24,332 1.6M

We celebrated our 81st annual meeting in Orlando, welcoming more than 400 members.

The Agriculture Education Services and Technology initiative tested more than 24,000 students in 2021-22.

34 $37,068 81st

Our members saved more than $37,068 through our Child Safety Seat Program member benefit.

60 percent of our county Farm Bureaus participated in the County Recognition Program. 11 of 60 Farm Bureau’s earned the President’s Award.

292 292 participants attended our 2022 Young Farmers and Ranchers Leadership Conference.

More than half our county Farm Bureaus sponsored FarmCity Week events to help connect rural and urban communities.

132,534

Florida Farm Bureau serves a total of 132,534 member families.

More than 200 members served on commodity advisory committees (five member serve on AFBF national issues advisory committees).

ROOTED IN

POLICY

OUR

GRASSROOTS

membership gives Florida Farm Bureau its influence as the Voice of Florida Agriculture. Member participation in government and community service is a positive force in shaping public policy.

Florida Farm Bureau member voices helped us to achieve legislative success. Nearly 200 Farm Bureau members participated in Farm Bureau Day in Tallahassee to help advocate for passage of a tax exemption on fence and farm gate supplies. Our member voices helped defeat local

regulations in South Florida that classified agricultural lands as contaminated.

Through our valued relationships with government and academic institutions, we helped secure more than $3 million in funding for UF/IFAS research and ecosystems and Artificial Intelligence, earmarked more than $300 million for Florida Forever and $19 million in support of the Fresh from Florida initiative.

Farm Bureau volunteers also worked to address federal policy matters. Our annual in-person Field to the Hill event was a virtual

Hill to the Field advocacy week that included the participation of more than 120 grassroots leaders, who engaged with Florida’s Congressional delegation and other federal leaders. Discussions included climate and tax policy and labor reform. We supported Florida’s congressional delegations’ filing of a Sec. 301 petition on behalf of our fruit and vegetable producers.

Through their representation on various public comments, members are the authentic voice of Florida Agriculture and the power of Farm Bureau.

ROOTED IN COMMUNITY

COMMUNICATION TOOLS

Florida Farm Bureau provides its members with the most advanced tools to be The Voice of Agriculture. Florida Farm & Family is our premiere membership publication that highlights Florida’s farmers and ranchers and rural life to a general consumer audience in both a print and digital format. Its collective online audience reach was 100,000. Our website presents content geared towards farm family and consumer members. We continued to elevate our social media platforms to reach a wider audience.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Our members donate to numerous charitable projects such as Ronald McDonald House Charities, Ag Angels Inc., equine therapy centers and food banks. Our state board of directors contributed $100,000 to

support Feeding Florida and funded disaster relief funds in support of farm families nationwide.

This year, our Women’s Fund donated more than $12,000 to various charities. Our Young Farmers and Ranchers won the Harvest for All award for donating to Feeding Florida Food banks for the most pounds donated, most innovative and most volunteer hours served.

Our members are our best advocates for telling the story of agriculture. Giving back to the community through Farm Share initiatives, partnering with organizations like Ag Angels or food pantries, hosting agricultural festivals and educational programs for young people, are all ways that Farm Bureau volunteers have helped keep agriculture rooted in their communities and our state.

ROOTED IN

MEMBERSHIP

THE 2021-22 ANNUAL THEME, Rooted in Resilience embraces the deep community roots of our members and celebrates their resiliency in confronting agricultural challenges.

Florida Farm Bureau received American Farm Bureau’s State Awards of Excellence for demonstrating outstanding achievements in four program areasAdvocacy, Engagement and Outreach, Leadership and Business Development and Membership Value.

2022 ANNUAL MEETING

Florida Farm Bureau welcomed more than 400 members to its 81st annual meeting. Policy direction for 2023 was set for the

organization. The three-day annual meeting celebrated the achievements of grassroots members including high-achieving Young Farmers & Ranchers, the superior natural resource care by farm families at the Commissioner’s AgriculturalEnvironmental Leadership Awards breakfast and the 2023 Florida Farmer of the Year was announced. Wade Purvis of Collier County will be the ambassador for farming.

APPLAUDING OUTSTANDING MEMBERS

Florida Farm Bureau bestowed the organization’s highest honor–the Distinguished Service Award–to William “Will” Dudley Putnam III of Polk County.

County Farm Bureaus with excellent programs and activities earned top awards in the County Recognition Program.

MEMBERSHIP APPRECIATION

Florida Farm Bureau hosted its 2nd annual Home Field AGvantage tailgate at FSU and UF football games to provide a complete interactive ag experience to help educate football fans about different commodities grown around the state. We recognized our members by providing a catered meal and free football tickets. These special events were celebrated with more than 3,500 tailgate visitors.

ROOTED IN LEADERSHIP

ANOTHER YEAR OF ACCOMPLISHMENT

Kevin Lussier, class president, and the Young Farmers & Ranchers Leadership Group hosted a phenomenal annual conference in St. Augustine.

The July event, themed “Rooted in Resilience,” saw hundreds of attendees gather to enjoy motivational breakout sessions, farm tours, and tight competitions, including the 2nd annual belly flop contest.

The Florida Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee is led by Chair Danielle Daum and Vice-Chair Victoria Register. Both women represent the Women’s Leadership Committee on the state board of directors.

Farm women gathered in Melbourne this past spring for the annual Florida Farm

Bureau Women’s Leadership Conference themed, “Rooted in Resilience.”

Nearly 200 Farm Bureau women enjoyed a weekend filled with networking, motivational speakers, farm tours and advocacy. The Women’s Leadership Committee donated more than ten boxes of personal hygiene items and school supplies to Redlands Christian Migrant Association.

Florida Farm Bureau’s agricultural certification program, Agriculture Education Services and Technology (AEST), was formed in 2011 and has administered over 93,000 exams and issued 51,575 certifications to middle and high school students, college students, teachers, and LECALE

participants in 350 Florida schools and 144 Louisiana schools to date.

Current certifications offered are Animal Care for Law Enforcement Officers (LECALE), Agritechnology, Agricultural Biotechnology, Agricultural Mechanics, Animal Science, Agricultural Communications, Unmanned Aircraft Systems in Agriculture, Natural Resources, Forestry and Associate of Agriculture and Agriculture Systems.

More than 24,300 exams were given in the 2021- 2022 academic school year alone. We also certified 29 law enforcement officers in the LECALE program.

AEST’s job board registered 77 employers, an 83 percent increase over the previous year.

GROWING OUR

FINANCES

Florida Farm Bureau Federation and Subsidiaries

REVENUE 7,544,406

EXPENSE 7,229,356

OPERATING INCOME (LOSS) 315,050 OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE) 4,543,109

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES AND OTHER CHANGES 4,858,159

INCOME TAX BENEFIT (EXPENSE) (16,433) CHANGE IN NET ASSETS 4,841,726

Florida Farm Bureau Federation Income and Expense Summary For the Fiscal Year 2021-2022

Florida Farm Bureau assists county Farm Bureaus in all aspects of finance and accounting.

ROOTED IN

GRASSROOTS

District

District 15 Dan West District 16 Ken Harrison

District 17 Mark Sodders

District 18 Reed Hartman District 19 Mark Wilson

Johnson Secretary Clay Archey

Michael J. Dooner