Helping county presidents to learn and grow as leaders
January 15-16, 2025 | The H Hotel, Midland
At this annual conference for county Farm Bureau presidents, attendees network with peers from across the state, build leadership skills, and learn about current state and national organizational issues.
The conference is primarily for county presidents. If the president is unable to attend, another member of the county executive committee (vice president or third member) may attend in their place.
Contact your County Administrative Manager to register.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Blake Hurst
Blake Hurst is the former president of the Missouri Farm Bureau’s Board of Directors, where he served in that role for 10 years. Prior to his role as president, he was a district board member on the Missouri state board for eight years and served seven years as Missouri Farm Bureau vice-president.
He raises corn and soybeans with his family and operates a wholesale greenhouse business. Hurst is also a freelance writer. His work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, The American, Weekly Standard, Wilson’s Quarterly, Reader’s Digest, Today’s Farmer and the Show Me magazine of Missouri Farm Bureau.
AGENDA
8:00-11:45 a.m. New President Training — Platinum
11:00 a.m. Registration and Individual County President Photos
12:00 p.m. Welcome & Keynote Session: Leveraging and Engaging the Full Power of Your Team — Indigo Ballroom
- Welcome — MFB President
- Invocation and Lunch
- Keynote Speaker: Lessons from the Tractor Seat — Blake Hurst, Retired Past President and farmer, Missouri Farm Bureau
- Leveraging the power of your volunteers, staff, and partners through focusing on your county Farm Bureau's purpose: the "why."
- Q&A with President Hurst
1:45 p.m. Networking break
2:15 p.m. Breakout Sessions (attend all 3)
- Recruiting New Leaders and Volunteers — Platinum
- CFB Board Succession Planning — Gold
- Effective Communication with Members — Indigo 1
4:45 p.m. General Session: Striving for Excellence
- County Presidents Panel of Excellence
- Champions of Excellence Awards
5:45 p.m. Adjourn
6:30 p.m. Reception — Indigo Foyer
7:30 p.m. Dinner — Indigo Ballroom
- Vegas Night and Euchre Tournament
7:00 a.m. Sunrise Session: District Collaboration and Discussion — Indigo Ballroom (Sit by District)
- Invocation and Breakfast
- District Roundtable Discussions led by MFB District Directors
- County Factbook Review/Discussion
- Keeping Agriculture at the Forefront of your County
- What are your goals as county president?
- What are your county's goals or needs?
8:45 a.m. Break
9:00 a.m. Breakout Sessions (Attend all 3)
- Goal Setting and Strategic Planning — Platinum
- A Leader's Guide to Effective Communication: Public Speaking, Presentations, and Media — Gold
- Conflict Resolution Strategies — Indigo 1
10:45 a.m. Check-out and Networking Break
11:15 a.m. Closing Session: Farm Bureau in Action — Indigo Ballroom
- County Relationship Agreement Update
- Membership Update — Laura Lunceford, Manager, Membership Department
- Legislative Update — Matt Smego, Director, MFB Public Policy & Commodity Division
- MFB's Social Mission: How County Farm Bureaus Can Engage to Help Solve Childhood Hunger — Audrey Carey, Community Engagement Specialist
12:00 p.m. Adjourn with Box Lunches — Indigo Foyer