Louisiana Farm Bureau 98th Annual Meeting Underway

The 98th Annual Meeting of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation is underway with the safety and well being of members in mind. 

While it will not be the usual four day family-friendly gathering members have come to expect the last week in June, the voting delegates and board of directors will take care of the business necessary to protect the interests of Louisiana’s farmers and ranchers. 

Missing from this year’s meeting will be the queen’s and talent contests, the awards program and all of the commodity focused conferences and seminars where farmers and ranchers would discuss issues and set positions on policy for the coming year.

The paramount point of business for members during the meeting is the election of officers. Louisiana Farm Bureau President Ronnie Anderson announced in February that he would retire after 31 years of leading the state’s largest general farm organization. 

Anderson, who recently walked out of the hospital following an intense two-month battle with COVID-19, said while he is sad to see the family-oriented event truncated, it’s a necessary step to curtail spread of the virus.

“I can tell you first-hand this is a nasty illness that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy,” Anderson said. “We have to protect our membership as best we can, while we still conduct the necessary business of Farm Bureau. I would encourage anyone who can participate online to do so.”

The normal session of voting delegates will take place online on Friday, June 26 to elect a new president and board of directors. The following day, Saturday, June 27, the newly-elected board will meet at the LSU-Alexandria Mega Shelter just south of the city.   

While these are not the ideal conditions under which Anderson should retire, the 72-year-old who has dedicated 51 years to Louisiana Farm Bureau said he’s proud of what the members of the organization accomplished during that time.

“I’d like to thank everyone I’ve served with over the past half-century,” Anderson said. “We’ve witnessed a lot of struggles, and this is just another one that will surely pass.  I am confident in both the future of the organization and its new leadership. The recent events have shown our farmers and our consumers that we need a strong Farm Bureau now and forever.”

Anderson will remain on the Louisiana Farm Bureau Board of Directors through June 2021 as an ex-officio member.