County Farm Bureaus earn honors for leadership, promotion

» January 4, 2007 «

Innovative programs that produce better-informed leaders and promote locally grown products have won national recognition for two California county Farm Bureaus.

The Fresno County Farm Bureau and the San Mateo County Farm Bureau have been chosen for County Activities of Excellence awards presented by the American Farm Bureau Federation. They are among only 15 county Farm Bureaus from throughout the nation chosen for the honor and will display their programs at the AFBF Annual Meeting next week, Jan. 7-8, in Salt Lake City.

Judges honored the Fresno County Farm Bureau for a leadership-development program it calls FACT, short for Future Advocates for Agriculture Concerned About Tomorrow. The program educates local and regional policymakers and community leaders whose decisions affect family farmers and ranchers. Participants attend monthly seminars and field trips that educate them about Fresno County agriculture and the numerous issues that affect it.

According to the Fresno County Farm Bureau, the FACT program has educated more than two-dozen community leaders during its history, and alumni of the program have joined county Farm Bureau representatives on advocacy trips to Sacramento and to Washington, D.C.

The award-winning San Mateo County Farm Bureau program encourages local restaurants and hotels to serve locally grown foods. Working with the county Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Farm Bureau aims to help local farmers and fishermen while enhancing San Mateo County's reputation as a destination for culinary tourists.

The "As Fresh As It Gets" program hosted dozens of San Mateo County chefs, restaurateurs and caterers on a tour of local farms and the county Farm Bureau provides them with monthly updates on the availability of fresh, local products. The program also recognized nearly 40 establishments for their efforts to buy, serve and promote local agricultural products and seafood.

The American Farm Bureau, which hosts the Salt Lake City showcase of innovative programs, is the nation's largest farming organization. The California Farm Bureau Federation works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of nearly 92,000 members.

Contact: Dave Kranz
Phone: 916/561-5550
news@cfbf.com

Permission for use is granted, however, credit must be made to the California Farm Bureau Federation when reprinting this item.