Georgia Farm Bureau Federation
Encyclopedia
The Georgia Farm Bureau Federation (GFB) is Georgia's largest and strongest voluntary agricultural organization with nearly 400,000 member families. It is an independent, non-governmental, membership organization. The membership is mainly composed of farm families in rural communities and of people who want Georgia to be agriculturally successful, progressive and prosperous.
and the 1921 national convention was even held in Atlanta. However, the organization dwindled during the Great Depression.
The current Georgia Farm Bureau was re-formed in 1937 by 50 north Georgia "dirt farmers" who wanted a unified voice in dealing with legislators in both Atlanta and Washington, D.C. That primary mission has not changed and today the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation continues to represent agriculture with a strong grassroots network of 159 county Farm Bureau organizations. Each county farm bureau has its own by-laws and is led by local officers and a board of directors.
Since its inception, the primary goal of the Georgia Farm Bureau is to be a united voice in the legislative arena, to promote farm markets and to provide leadership to Georgia's agricultural community.
In addition to these, the Georgia Farm Bureau family includes other operating entities:
Certified Farm Markets is a program operated by GFB's Commodities/Marketing Department which promotes farmer-operated pick-your-own or roadside markets and Christmas Tree farms throughout the state. A Georgia Farm Bureau Certified Farm Market is a retail farm market operated by a bona fide producer of agricultural products. Each market location will display a "Georgia Certified Farm Market" sign denoting its membership. These markets sell locally grown, farm-fresh products and are dedicated to customer satisfaction. In addition to having ripe products, many Certified Farm Markets also offer a variety of Agri-Tourism activities.
The Georgia Farm Radio Network, (GFRN) a statewide farm broadcast network, is a joint venture of Georgia Farm Bureau, Inc. and Georgia News Network (GNN) / Clear Channel, Inc. The network, based at GFB, is carried by 47 Georgia radio stations. GFRN produces 7 agriculture news programs each day to keep Georgia agriculture and agribusiness informed.
The Georgia Farm Monitor is a nationally-syndicated weekly ag news television program broadcast throughout Georgia on 12 TV stations and three times per week nationally on the RFD-TV Network carried by both Dish Network, DirecTV and a host of cable systems. The television program serves agriculture, agribusiness and consumers in Georgia and the Southeast. It is produced in the Farm Bureau studios in Macon, GA, and has been on the air continuously since June, 1966.
American Farm Bureau Website * http://www.fb.org
Georgia Farm Monitor TV Website * http://www.farm-monitor.com
Georgia Farm Radio Network Website * http://www.gfrn.net
History
Farmers in the early 1900s formed a Georgia Farm Bureau Federation, which evolved as an indirect result of the establishment of Georgia Extension Service programs. The group paid membership dues to the American Farm BureauAmerican Farm Bureau Federation
The American Farm Bureau Federation , commonly referred to as the Farm Bureau, is a nonprofit organization and the largest general farm organization in the United States...
and the 1921 national convention was even held in Atlanta. However, the organization dwindled during the Great Depression.
The current Georgia Farm Bureau was re-formed in 1937 by 50 north Georgia "dirt farmers" who wanted a unified voice in dealing with legislators in both Atlanta and Washington, D.C. That primary mission has not changed and today the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation continues to represent agriculture with a strong grassroots network of 159 county Farm Bureau organizations. Each county farm bureau has its own by-laws and is led by local officers and a board of directors.
Since its inception, the primary goal of the Georgia Farm Bureau is to be a united voice in the legislative arena, to promote farm markets and to provide leadership to Georgia's agricultural community.
Mission
"The purpose of the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation, as the largest farm organization in Georgia, is to provide leadership and assistance to the agricultural sector, to promote farm products, to aid in agri-related procurement, to be a spokesman for the farmer in the legislative arena, to be a leader in the development and expansion of farm markets, to strive for more agricultural research and educational funds and facilities—in essence—to use the Georgia Farm Bureau organization and its facilities as the vehicle with which to assist in providing farm families a fair and equitable standard of living and to ensure the existence of agriculture as a vital and thriving industry in the future." (GFB By-Laws)Member Services
The five-story, 171000 square feet (15,886.4 m²) GFB corporate office building in Macon, 75 miles (120.7 km) south of Atlanta, has a full-service cafeteria and 325 seat auditorium. It is a hub of agriculture-related meetings in the state. There are approximately 600 "home office" employees, in addition to over 500 insurance agents located throughout the state to serve members. A wide array of Member Benefits, from banking and financial services, to multi-line insurance products, to car rental and hotel discounts and multiple health care offerings are available to qualified members.In addition to these, the Georgia Farm Bureau family includes other operating entities:
Certified Farm Markets is a program operated by GFB's Commodities/Marketing Department which promotes farmer-operated pick-your-own or roadside markets and Christmas Tree farms throughout the state. A Georgia Farm Bureau Certified Farm Market is a retail farm market operated by a bona fide producer of agricultural products. Each market location will display a "Georgia Certified Farm Market" sign denoting its membership. These markets sell locally grown, farm-fresh products and are dedicated to customer satisfaction. In addition to having ripe products, many Certified Farm Markets also offer a variety of Agri-Tourism activities.
The Georgia Farm Radio Network, (GFRN) a statewide farm broadcast network, is a joint venture of Georgia Farm Bureau, Inc. and Georgia News Network (GNN) / Clear Channel, Inc. The network, based at GFB, is carried by 47 Georgia radio stations. GFRN produces 7 agriculture news programs each day to keep Georgia agriculture and agribusiness informed.
The Georgia Farm Monitor is a nationally-syndicated weekly ag news television program broadcast throughout Georgia on 12 TV stations and three times per week nationally on the RFD-TV Network carried by both Dish Network, DirecTV and a host of cable systems. The television program serves agriculture, agribusiness and consumers in Georgia and the Southeast. It is produced in the Farm Bureau studios in Macon, GA, and has been on the air continuously since June, 1966.
External links
Georgia Farm Bureau Website * http://www.gfb.orgAmerican Farm Bureau Website * http://www.fb.org
Georgia Farm Monitor TV Website * http://www.farm-monitor.com
Georgia Farm Radio Network Website * http://www.gfrn.net