RI County Farm Bureau : Committees & Programs

ROCK ISLAND COUNTY FARM BUREAU:
MISSION STATEMENT

"A Positive Voice for Agriculture, Providing Resources that Enhance the Economic Success and Quality of Life for Rural and Urban Communities"

Thursday June 17, 2004 will be our last of this Marketing series, featuring guest speaker Elwynn Taylor of the Iowa State University.

Please call the Rock Island County Farm Bureau at 736-7432 or Rock Island County Extension office at 796-0512 to register for the remainder of this series. Cost is $16.00 ea. session.

Rock Island County Farm Bureau
Governmental Affairs Committee
Program of Work – 2004/2005

Goals: Maintain effective lines of communications with state
             and national legislators
          Increase involvement in county board issues as the need              arises
          Increase participation in ACTIVATOR
          Keep our members involved in issues affecting them,
             such as ethanol, trade and farm bill

Health & Safety
Sponsor a water testing program ( work with Rock Island County Health Department and/or Heidelberg College(independent) in Ohio)
Organize and establish a Water Quality and Resources Committee to
minimize risk

Political Involvement and Education
Build upon and expand the Capital Contact letter-writing/action request      system
Meet with state legislators every spring to discuss the issues coming up in the      next session of the General Assembly ( Legislator Luncheon)
Schedule an event where we can meet with our congressman to discuss
     issues (Celebrity Showmanship Contest in 2004)
Sponsor a visit to the State Capital for our members, to meet with our      legislators, and gain a better understanding of how our legislative
     process works
Sponsor one committee or Board member on the Leaders to Washington      program, annually
Sponsor committee members transportation, lodging and registration fees
     to the annual IFB Governmental Affairs Conference in Springfield in
     late February or early March
Schedule a meeting with UAW or IBEW representatives for open
     discussion on both parties involvement for a strong agriculture
     economy (as needed; i.e. Lock and Dam )
Support the involvement of the Activator program.
Continue our Adopt A Legislator program with State Representative
     Julie Hamos and coordinate a visit to her district.

Local Affairs

Goals: Become more involved and informed in the activities
             of County Government
          Work for the continued existence of Township               Government

Monitor the development of bike paths in our county
Monitor the Building and Zoning Office and represent members interests
     at meetings
Monitor Land Use Planning Committee of County Board ( Land Use
     Plan app’d ‘98)
Sponsor a cookout with County Board members and FB directors
Solicit member’s input for a county viewpoint program to establish policy
     on Local or state issues.
Assist and monitor in the implementation of Bulletin 810 for taxes payable
     in 2007

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Continuing Education
Sponsor a Market Education Seminar covering risk management and
     timely topics; focus to be hands-on training (i.e. FAST or Steve
     Johnson Seminar
Co-sponsor the Market Outlook Seminar Series with the Cooperative      Extension Service.
     (Serve as host for coordinating speakers and dinner reservations;
        yearly contribution to CES will be reimbursed to FB after matching
        grant has been made to help in defraying the costs of the program) Sponsor a bus trip to the Farm Progress Show with adjacent CFB’s

Farm Business Management

Goals: Assist our members in improving their record keeping                systems
           Promote the Internet being a valuable communications                tool for agriculture
           Provide information to our members regarding the                improved use of their time

Provide market quotes and other information on the FarmDayta and the      www.ricofarmbureau.org county web page
Work to provide information on Farm Service Agency and NRCS updates
      to members by inviting to talk at board, committee or special event       meetings
Promote our Personal Income Tax Service in conjunction with Illinois      Agricultural Auditing Association
Sponsor a meeting on Agri-Plan/Biz-Plan, which provides valuable tax
     benefits to our members during the November Market Outlook series

Marketing Development and Understanding
Continue to promote renewable fuels usage in the Quad Cities, by
      monitoring its availability at area stations; continue to seek support of      MetroLink in utilizing SoyBioDiesel in the Channel Cat water taxi and      initiate promotion with buses in the fleet plan
Facilitate discussions on future marketing opportunities that provide value      added benefits to Rock Island county farmers and specialty growers;
     work with local Extension regional center about value added projects
Sponsor a booth at the QC Farm Show
Support the Public Relations and Promotion Committee in expanding the      usefulness of the website to farmers, members and general public.

Commodities & Marketing
Sponsor a milk mustache contest in conjunction with the Davis Hall exhibits      during the Rock Island County Fair; generate donations to eliminate
     costs of polaroid film and prizes.

Health & Safety
Sponsor a program to promote health and fitness; “piggyback” with Trinity
     and Genesis on community events that have high visibility
Work with Young Farmers’ in sponsoring a FarMedic program

Membership & Member Services
Sponsor our annual “Women in Ag” program at Butterworth and at FireWorks to cater to both age groups
Sponsor a “Tips for the Survivor” program, being prepared for the death
of a spouse
Assist with County Annual Meeting (August)
Sponsor Lifeline Screening annually or as needed

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Rock Island County Farm Bureau
Teacher Advisory Council
2004-2005 Program of Work

Goals: Provide the most efficient use of resources for           administering an quality Agriculture in the Classroom           program. To provide direction to Farm Bureau staff on           current and upcoming issues to teachers that will have a           need for Agriculture in the Classroom in assisting those           teachers. Serve as a resource or ambassador for           Agriculture in the Classroom for current teachers in
          Rock Island County.

Ag Literacy
Promote Summer Ag Institutes (SAI) I and II for Rock Island county      teachers; seek assistance and funding from outside sources to defray
     costs associated with SAI planning and implementation
Offer free issues of Illinois Ag Mags as requested by Rock Island county      teachers
Continue to promote the use of Agri-Science Kits and restock kits as
      needed; offer feedback to state organization on development of new
      agri-science kits and updating older, less popular kits
Continue participation in the Meat Goes to School program with
      neighboring counties, as well as with our own county schools.
Assist in developing grants for future funding of projects in Rock Island      County

Public Relations and Promotion / Membership Committee
2004-2005

Goals: Cross promote Farm Bureau to our members and general               consumers thru a combined group effort.
          Work to educate our general Quad Cities community on               the importance of production agriculture in the               economy.
          Work with coordinating agencies for the Fair.
          Facilitate and be proactive in responding to agricultural               issues facing farmers today and be the leading cfb in               the Quad Cities area for agricultural issues

Public Relations and Promotion
Continue and expand the Quad Cities Regional Advertising Committee to      work with other counties on tv advertising of Farm Bureau
Coordinate Media Cookouts with local TV, Radio and newspaper affiliates      (sponsor a cookout every 18 months with the respective media)
Sponsor the Agricultural NewsChannel on the WQAD website June 1 –      August 1, pending funding from other sources such as IAA or outside      vendors.
Consider and review other forms of media campaigns (i.e. billboard, radio,      print (newspaper and magazine)
Seek involvement in a public television produced documentary on Quad
      City area agriculture history
Coordinate 1st Ever Celebrity Showmanship Contest at Rock Island
      County Fair and secure sponsors for premiums
Work with SWCD, FSA, Extension, NRCS, and 4-H to showcase      Agriculture at Rock Island County Fair
Work with news anchors to provide story ideas for fall and spring sweeps      week feature stories
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Ag Literacy
Conduct Farm Animal Exhibits at area schools (Riverdale, Rock Island,      Moline, East Moline schools) late March or early April; Seek to expand      program with an indoor Ag Expo in 2005 thru an applied-for grant thru      Moline Foundation.
Conduct a Farm Bureau Acquaintance Program with Rockridge FFA
     Chapter (‘98 - CaseIH; ‘99 - Deere; 2000 - IBP; 2001- Museum of      Science and Industry; 2002 – Growmark FS; 2003 – Deere; 2004 –      Deere in Waterloo)
Sponsor two FFA members to attend the IFB & Affiliates Youth
     Conference

Health & Safety
Sponsor a Farm Safety Camp for area children at the Fairgrounds in late
      July or early August or work with local tv station to be a part of Safety      Expo at Southpark Mall
Sponsor a CPR Training Program during the winter months/work with a
     baby CPR

Promotion and Membership Recruitment
Sponsor the 4-H Ag Olympics, soliciting donations from area businesses
Investigate the possibility of hosting a Toy Show
Recruit new members by hosting a dinner for potential committee members.
Assist with Citrus Program
Sponsor social and sporting events for our Young Farmers committee, in      conjunction with neighboring counties
Promote committee members participation in IFB Young Farmers activities
Sponsor a New Member Bowling Night

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GOVERNMENTAL INVOLVEMENT
Farm Bureau has professional staff in Springfield and Washington, DC, working with members to:
* meet with local legislators, letting them know of farmer's interests
* hold the line on property tax increases without voter approval
* find an equitable solution to the funding woes of our schools
* support fair farm and trade programs enact sensible and responsible environmental legislation
* work with local governments on various issues affecting farmers
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* Local grain quotes on FarmDayta
* Market Outlook Seminars
* AgriVisor market advice service
* Promotion of Farm Products
* Seminars on Value-Added products
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