Lincoln County Farm Bureau members attended the 91^st annual Colorado Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Denver Nov. 19-22. Members contributed to and voted on policy that benefits farmers and ranchers across the state. Much of the policy centered upon water rights, land use, animal treatment, product marketing and animal identification. Members also heard guestspeakers including Colorado Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll, who delivered Sunday morning's devotional. Other speakers included Zippy Duvall, President, Georgia Farm Bureau; The Chocolate Therapist; and Alan Foutz, President, Colorado Farm Bureau.

Farm Bureau member Jeff Thornton, of Karval, was elected to represent District 3 on the State Board of Directors. District 3 is comprised of Lincoln, Kit Carson, Cheyenne and Kiowa Counties.  Susan Leach, of Lindon, will represent District 3 on the Women’s Committee.

Rachel Vermillion, of Rush, won the Women’s Committee-sponsored essay contest as well as earning second place honors in the Young Farmers and Ranchers Discussion Meet. Vermillion will travel to the American Farm Bureau Foundation Annual Meeting in Seattle, Wash., in January to attend the Women’s Committee meeting and observe the National Discussion Meet. The Discussion Meet is meant to simulate a local level board meeting and provides competitors the opportunity to discuss issues pivotal to the agriculture community while building their speaking and communication skills.

In an effort to communicate Farm Bureau’s opposition of Cap and Trade legislation, members from across the state, including Lincoln County, collected signatures written on ball caps. Members brought the signed hats to the Colorado Farm Bureau Annual Meeting where they were displayed. The caps will be presented to Senators Bennett and Udall as a show of the bureau’s opposition of global warming legislation.

For more information about Lincoln County Farm Bureau and the policies supported and opposed, visit colofb.com or lincolncountyfb.com.