(AFBF) — The American Farm Bureau is hosting a full day of virtual programming, focused on the future of agriculture and the most pressing issues for farmers, ranchers and consumers in 2021.
The 2021 American Farm Bureau Virtual Convention offers a full plate of programming, today, following the official kickoff Sunday with an opening address from AFBF President Zippy Duvall. The virtual convention is free to all, and registration remains open throughout the event. Monday through Wednesday, attendees will have the opportunity to hear from industry leaders, farmers and policy experts at both live featured workshops and on-demand sessions.
Attendees can choose from four live workshops starting at 11:00 a.m. Eastern, watch 29 competitors in the YF&R Discussion Meet starting at Noon ET, and visit the Virtual Showcase to engage with representatives from across the industry to learn more about key issues and the latest farm products.
Monday’s live programming will also feature a discussion with AFBF President Zippy Duvall and Land O’ Lakes President and CEO Beth Ford exploring the challenges and opportunities for agriculture and the food chain in 2021, at 3:00 p.m. ET. The day’s events will wrap with a special Foundation Night In at 5:00 p.m. ET, featuring performances by Sara Evans and Phil Vassar, and the unveiling of the Foundation Book of the Year and the 2021 Farm Dog of the Year.
Monday’s featured workshops will explore the policy outlook for 2021, cattle markets, farmer-consumer engagement and post-COVID consumer priorities:
The Cattle Market Outlook: Economics and Policy, at 11:00 a.m. ET, will look at market volatility in 2020 and take a deep dive into what cattle producers across the country could expect in 2021. AFBF’s Scott Bennett and Michael Nepveux and agricultural economist Dr. Derrell Peel will discuss how both the marketplace and policies from the 117th Congress will affect cattle markets.
At the Keeping it Real: Highlighting Agriculture Advocacy workshop, at 11:00 a.m. ET, Will Sutton, competitor on NBC’s Titan Games, and Melissa Burns, cast member on CBS’s Tough as Nails, will discuss how they were able to represent the agricultural community through their experiences with reality TV.
Members of AFBF’s public policy and public affairs teams will host a special Washington update at 1:00 p.m. ET, exploring the current political landscape and how the 117th Congress and the new Biden Administration might shape agricultural policy in the coming year.
Finally, Roxi Beck of the Center for Food Integrity will lead a discussion, at 1:00 p.m. ET, with representatives from Wegmans and Cargill on what will be top-of-mind for the post-COVID consumer. This panel of food supply chain and consumer trust experts will discuss how the agriculture and food industry can address consumers’ concerns and their post-pandemic priorities, following the disruptions and unanticipated ripple effects throughout the food chain in 2020.
All sessions will also be available as on-demand content post-airing to all registered attendees. The full schedule and free registration information can all be found at annualconvention.fb.org.
Source: American Farm Bureau Federation