Award-winning author to speak at Farm Bureau convention

Best-selling author Michele Payn will share excerpts from her latest book, Food Truths from Farm to Table, on Nov. 27 during Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s 2018 Annual Convention at The Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs.

Payn, of Cause Matters Corp., will deliver keynote remarks at the convention’s Farm to Table Luncheon.Food Truths has been a No. 1 bestseller on Amazon and features interviews with U.S. farmers who dispel common misconceptions about agriculture. The book was awarded a 2018 Independent Publisher Book Awards bronze medal for medicine, health and nutrition. Payn also has authored No More Food Fights! Growing a Productive Farm & Food Conversation, which encourages farm and food advocates to seek common ground.

During the convention, delegates from each county Farm Bureau in Virginia will help shape VFBF state and federal policies for the coming year. This year they also will elect VFBF officers and five state-level directors.

Cattle producers will receive an update on the state cattle checkoff from Jason Carter, executive director of the Virginia Cattlemen’s Association. Farmers interested in direct-marketing agricultural products can listen to a panel discussion among producers who sell directly to consumers.

Another workshop, Taking It On Locally, will feature a panel of farmers whose county Farm Bureaus have addressed local issues and forged relationships with their elected officials. Additionally, staff and a veteran newspaper editor and reporter will share tips with members about communicating effectively with their local media outlets.

The final round of the Young Farmers Discussion Meet will take place during the convention on Tuesday afternoon. The state winner of that consensus-building, committee-style competition will be named on Wednesday morning, as will the recipient of the 2018 VFBF Young Farmers Achievement Award.

With 129,000 members in 88 county Farm Bureaus, VFBF is Virginia’s largest farmers’ advocacy group. Farm Bureau is a non-governmental, nonpartisan, voluntary organization committed to supporting Virginia’s agriculture industry. View more convention news as it becomes available atvafb.com/convention.