Farm Bureau News April 2016 Primary Election Endorsements Issue bytes Communications Boot Camp Caterpillar Adds New Teaches Women How to Tell Machines, Tools to Farm Ag’s Story Bureau Member Discount Farm Bureau members can now save up to The American Farm Bureau Federation is $2,500 thanks to the addition of hydraulic excavators now accepting applications for its tenth Women’s and a medium track-type tractor to the Caterpillar Communications Boot Camp class, July 12 –15 in Member Benefi t program. In addition, Farm Bureau Washington, D.C. The three-day intensive training is members will now receive a $250 credit on work tool open to all women who are Farm Bureau members. attachments purchased with a new Caterpillar machine. The program focuses on enhancing communication and leadership skills and includes targeted training “Caterpillar is excited to grow its partnership with in the areas of public speaking, media relations, Farm Bureau by offering discounts on additional messaging and advocacy. products,” says Dustin Johansen, agriculture segment manager for Caterpillar. “Our goal is always to help Fifteen women will be selected to participate in members be more productive and better serve Farm this year’s program. Applications are available online Bureau members’ diverse needs.” or through state Farm Bureaus. The deadline for submissions is May 10. All applicants will be notifi ed “West Virginia Farm Bureau is proud to make of their status by June 1. these exclusive benefi ts available to our members,” says Charles Wilfong, president of West Virginia The American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Farm Bureau. “Thanks to Caterpillar, our members program provides women with the training and will continue to benefi t from savings on best-in-class education they need to encourage positive change in machines.” their communities and within agriculture. For more information, visit www.fb.org. To take advantage of Caterpillar incentives, members can visit www.FBadvantage.com/Cat, enter their membership ID and ZIP code, download a certifi cate and present it to a Cat dealer at the time of Articles for NewsBytes must be submitted by the 15th of purchase. The offer is transferrable to anyone living the month prior to publication. Time-sensitive announcements in the Farm Bureau member’s household. Residency must be submitted no less than 8 weeks prior to the date of the must be verifi ed for both the original customer and the event. Electronic submissions, including photos, are preferred. transferee through a current driver’s license or state Send to [email protected]. identifi cation. West Virginia Farm Bureau News e Voice of Agriculture in the Mountain State April 2016 Volume 24 Number 4 West Virginia Farm Bureau 62 Farm Bureau Road Buckhannon, WV 26201 PRESIDENT 8 16 26 Charles Wilfong VICE PRESIDENT 14 John Pitsenbarger 19 SECRETARY/TREASURER-ADMINISTRATOR Steve Butler 4 Presidential Paradigms EDITOR Joan Harman 6 Nationwide’s Make Safe Happen® Program West Virginia Farm Bureau News is published monthly by the West Virginia Farm Bureau, Inc. Annual subscription 8 West Virginia’s Comeback Begins Now rates: $3.32 (included in annual dues). Advertising rates and circulation information 14 WV Farm PAC Announces Endorsements furnished upon request. Periodicals postage paid at Buckhannon, WV and additional mailing o ces. Postmaster: return all forms 16 No Life Without Water 3579 to West Virginia Farm Bureau, 62 Farm Bureau Road, Buckhannon, WV 26201. (ISSN 1076-8556) (USPS 011-537) 19 Supreme Court Outcome Could Dispel Printed by Ralston Press, Inc. Buckhannon, WV. 26 A Leg Up © 2016 West Virginia Farm Bureau No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission web site: www.wvfarm.org email: [email protected] phone: 800.398.4630 On the cover Barnes’ Barn Tabby Bennett PRESIDENTIAL PARADIGMS West Virginia’s Future in Hands of Voters Charles Wilfong, President, West Virginia Farm Bureau Seems that our hopes of an Having these positions elected on a non-partisan early and lasting, warm spring basis was something that WVFB worked hard season are being delayed a to get done. Our state Legislature approved this little bit by the recent cold change last year. It is vitally important that we snap. The early turn-out pay special attention to these judicial elections of livestock on mountain and take advantage of this new opportunity to pastures that many of us were elect these folks based on their qualifi cations and hoping for probably won’t abilities rather than just by political party. So happen. But my dad always please encourage family, friends and neighbors to said the grass that grows in take advantage of this new chance to elect the right March most always gets frozen in April. I guess people to oversee our judicial system. Many people once again he knew what he was talking about. are unaware of this change in the election process. One thing that hasn’t cooled down is the The only judicial race that the WV Farm PAC is current upcoming election. We have many involved with is the position on the WV Supreme important choices to make in the May 10 Court. The Farm PAC has endorsed Beth Walker primary here in West Virginia. Without a doubt for that position. She is an exceptional candidate the biggest news in the West Virginia election who we believe would serve our state very well on is that all judges - from Magistrate Court to the the West Virginia Supreme Court. This is likely the state Supreme Court - will be elected on a non- most important vote we can cast in this primary partisan basis in the primary. That means these elections are over with in the primary. see Wilfong, page 15 Sowing Seeds for a Future Harvest Zippy Duvall, President, American Farm Bureau Federation Farmers are blessed to get affecting agriculture. And that’s just what we’re doing a front row seat each spring this spring. to fresh beginnings and new life. Each year we plant our AFBF already has taken the lead in tackling crops and care for the animals budget talks that could threaten important farm bill and land we’ve been entrusted programs. Some would like nothing more than to cut with, not just for ourselves but programs that have been carefully streamlined to fi t for those who will come after. today’s marketplace. We’re partnering with a variety Here in Washington, we take of organizations and members of Congress from planting season just as seriously as we work to ensure both sides of the aisle to guarantee the 2014 farm bill farmers and ranchers have the tools they need to accomplishes its goals of supporting conservation, plant, care for and bring those crops to harvest. providing nutrition assistance and helping farmers manage through challenging economic times. Taken Our team is constantly scanning the policy fi eld as a whole, it is about keeping healthful, affordable to move our issues forward. The political climate food on America’s dinner tables. can change as quickly as the weather, but whether that brings challenge or opportunity, it’s all the more important for us to get ahead on the key issues see Duvall, page 14 4 West Virginia Farm Bureau News Around the Dome Dwayne O’Dell, Director of Government Relations As I step back and look protecting the surface owners’ and mineral owners’ at the last day of the 60-day rights. 2016 Legislative Session, a few thoughts come to The Legislature must consider all who are involved, mind. With more than 1,600 along with ensuring that drilling is conducted with the bills introduced, numerous use of the best of technology from an environmental committee meetings, and long standpoint. I believe that some of the legislation as House and Senate sessions, proposed by Delegate Ireland and others contained many when you break it all down, it’s positives. Hopefully the WVFB, oil/gas developers, about what’s best for West Virginia’s future. legislators, and other stakeholders will work together in the coming months to develop legislation that can In the early morning of the last day, I saw lobbyists, be enacted to further strengthen and guide oil/gas delegates, senators, and of course, private citizens. One development and protect private property rights at the in particular caught my attention—a dad with his young same time. daughter was walking about the Capitol and stopped at the massive statue of U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd. I Nationally, the American Farm Bureau reports that thought, after all the disagreements, discussions, denials, the U.S. Senate has failed to reach an agreement on the and demands, that it all comes down to what is best Biotech Labeling Solutions Act as proposed by Senator for the overall good of West Virginia families. This is Roberts of Kansas. This legislation was needed to represented by the young father who was leading his set a national standard for GMO labeling. Failure to daughter around the Capitol. What will West Virginia pass this bill, according to many economists, may add look like when this little girl grows up to possibly lead numerous dollars to food manufacturing, and ultimately her own child someday around our Capitol? the consumers will pay the cost. This legislation was supported by over 300 farm groups, companies, and This thought means even more when each of us other entities. concentrate upon what the future holds for our families. West Virginia Farm Bureau has continued a long history GMO/biotechnology has been approved as safe by during this session of standing strong on conservative the FDA and USDA. Over 70 percent of our corn and family values, protecting individual freedoms and 90 percent of our soybean production are GMO varieties.