November/December 2008 Volume 35, Issue 5 < President’s report < Texas couple honored the oice < 2009 officers elected We can do it together! < V Committee reports < Affiliate, industry news Convention programs address StART panel addresses domestic issues international and domestic issues Topics of taxes, immigration, border security, Convention programs provided Agri- climate change and property rights were Women with outstanding lifelong addressed by a panel of four experts. learning opportunities. Drawing upon Taxes continue to gain headlines their research, personal and professional daily as our country faces economic experiences, convention speakers addressed challenges. Tom Wright, representing timely issues of international cooperation, Americans for Fair Taxation described global climate change, property rights, the FAIRTAX proposal that has been taxes and immigration. drawing interest from citizens nationwide. A panel of rural women from Canada, Wright explained that the FAIRTAX is Mexico, and the U.S. keynoted the a nonpartisan proposal that replaces all second annual International Summit. federal income and payroll taxes with a Brenda Lammens and Susan Fitzgerald, progressive tax on consumption (national farm women from Ontario, Canada, and retail sales tax). It includes cash “prebate” Ana Bella Blankenship, a rancher from that ensures no American pays federal Tampico, Mexico, Cheryl Day, Illinois, and taxes on their spending for essential goods Diana Westmoreland-Pedrozo, California, Susan Fitzgerald (L) and Brenda and services up to the poverty level. If addressed issues affecting agriculture in Lammens (R), Ontario, Canada, on the enacted, the 16th amendment would be their countries. Panelists were highly panel at the international summit. repealed and federal income taxes would informed and presented honest and Feeding our populations and building be no more. It is projected to raise the straightforward responses from their own our agriculture economies are same amount of revenues as the current experiences. dependent upon free trade, monitored system with much lower marginal rates. Questions addressed were: but not closed borders, common Biosecurity, immigration, and drug standards for product safety, inspection Trade—Who and what is the main trafficking all play a part in the concerns market for products? How do you assure and labeling. of U.S. citizens for border security. Mario product quality? Are products inspected? Farm size in both Canada and the U.S. Villarreal, Assistant Chief, McAllen, TX How often? is increasing while farm population Sector of the Border patrol described what NAFTA—Does it work? What are the is declining. Agricultural labor is a is happening on the U.S./Mexico border. impacts? problem in all countries. He praised border patrol staff that carry out their duties 24/7 in a dangerous and Border Security/Labor/Immigration— NAFTA impacts prices, allows for free challenging work environment. Patrol Are these concerns? movement, and common rules and staff relies on both physical barriers and regulations can create stability. One Rural Viability—What is happening to high tech tools in their work to keep the of the biggest concerns is inequity of the rural culture? Socioeconomic issues? border secure. Environment—What are the concerns? government subsidies. Dan Byfield, president of American Land What are the “hot topics”? Border security can mean different Foundation, demonstrated proof that things depending where you live and Some key “take home messages” from the the government is going forward with the day-to-day impact on your own panel and follow-up discussion were: the Trans-Texas Corridor superhighway, enterprise. Canada especially needs which will eventually connect Canada, the U.S., Canadian, and Mexican more workers in all ag sectors. agriculture is very interdependent. United States and Mexico as the NAFTA Thousands of agriculture products Many Mexican citizens are seeking job Superhighway. According to Byfield, while either raw or processed move across opportunities in the U.S. and Canada. the idea may be good in theory to move our borders daily. Convention continued to page 5 Panel continued to page 6 Page 2 American Agri-Women earlier this year, the opposite is true for Executive Committee 8 GMA’s members. A box of Wheaties President Marcie Williams President’s Report and a loaf of bread are still as expensive 11404 Appleton Road as when price hikes took hold because Croton, OH 43013 AAW Phone: 740-893-2624 food companies are pocketing the profit Home Phone: 740-893-4300 instead of passing their savings along to Fax: 740-893-4003 Marcie Williams grocery shoppers. [email protected] AAW President There has been one bright light coming 1st Vice Chris Wilson from this. Wanda Kinney sent me a flyer President 2103 Zeandale Road Resolutions Manhattan, KS 66502 from the Thriftway Super Markets in Phone: 785-539-7899 her area of Kansas. They have 47 stores Holiday greetings to everyone! What [email protected] in the area. Inside the front cover was a an exciting and educational annual Vice Pres. Arlene Kovash red circle with the words “If you ate a meeting we all had in San Antonio. The Commun. 11425 Pedee Creek Road meal today, Thank a farmer.” Wanda says. Monmouth, OR 97361 Texas ladies did an outstanding job and “It’s not Broadway but our foot is finally Phone: 503-838-3512 deserve our warmest appreciation. The in one door at least.” She wrote a letter communications@ quality of speakers was superb with americanagriwomen.org to the advertising director thanking many new businesses attending the trade him and said she would appreciate this Vice Pres. Pamela Sweeten show and their organizers wanting to continuing, as well as putting a logo and Education 9486 Tegnew Road join AAW. The Champagne Cowboys Hilmar, CA 95324 ad on the store grocery bags. We can and live auction were bright spots in Phone: 209-606-1418 only hope but as Wanda said, “We’re in [email protected] the Saturday evening banquet. Those the door.” Thanks, Wanda, for sharing cowboys sure know how to make the Secretary Cheryl E. Day that with us. champagne flow! With the vocal efforts 3509 County Line Road Thanksgiving was a wonderful time to Cerro Gordo, IL 61818 of Merlynn Verstuyft’s auctioneering, Phone: 217-763-9907 AAW made some added money from share with your friends the source of the Fax: 217-763-6010 some really outstanding items. I’m food for their meal. Did you? AFBF’s [email protected] not too sure but I think some were 23rd annual informal price survey of Treasurer Carolyn Kleiber even purchased by phone bidding. classic items found on the Thanksgiving PO Box 111 My hat’s off to Merlynn but I have to Day dinner table indicated the average Hillsboro, KS 67063 recommend she keep her day job. cost of this year’s feast for 10 was $44.61, Phone: 620-947-3094 a $2.35 price increase from last year’s Fax: 620-947-2476 It was wonderful to see Texas Agri- [email protected] average of $42.26. With all the hoop-la Women president Shirley Wilde and of food versus fuel, high commodity Past President Yvonne Erickson husband Lawrence make the Saturday 34115 County Hwy 74 prices and even higher fuel prices evening dinner. Lawrence had been Battle Lake, MN 56515 we only had an increase of $2.35. We hospitalized earlier in the week, just Phone: 218-495-2867 are American farmers and ranchers, Fax: 218-495-2659 when Shirley was getting started with providers of the safest, most abundant pastpresident@ preparations for the meeting. The week and most economical food supply in the americanagriwomen.org must have been long for both of them AAW Web Site: www.americanagriwomen.org world. Stand proud! but Lawrence is a trooper and they both AAW Email: [email protected] enjoyed the post tour on Sunday. Our Christmas blessings to every one of you The Voice is published in February, April, June, evening meal at Barbara and Jimmy this holiday season. A star shines over a August, October, and December by American Steidinger’s ranch was a glowing success nativity scene at my home and Christ Agri-Women as a service to members. Deadline complete with deer in the fields and a will be on my Christmas cards. I hope is the 15th of the month before each issue is your holiday season means as much to published. Articles and suggestions are always spectacular Texan sunset. Thank you so welcomed by: much ladies for a glorious time in Texas. you as mine does to me. Glad tidings to you all and I’ll see you next year. Editor Juanita Reed-Boniface I saw that Sen. Chuck Grassley (R- 2462 Lake George Drive NW IA) recently penned a letter to the Marcie Cedar, MM 55011 Grocery Manufacturers of America Phone: 763-753-4636 [email protected] (GMA) demanding one of two things: cheaper food on the shelves or an —or— apology for unfairly blaming ethanol Vice Pres. Arlene Kovash and grain producers for higher retail Commun. (contact info listed above) [email protected] food prices. Unfortunately I don’t look for that to happen soon. We are Please send address changes to: Carolyn Kleiber, Membership Chair all aware that while our markets have (contact info listed above) fallen dramatically from what they were [email protected] <<<November/December 2008 Page 3 2007 Leaven Award presented By Arlene Kovash Four outstanding American Agri-Women involved with agriculture throughout (AAW) members received AAW’s highest her entire life, starting with supportive honor, the LEAVEN Award. LEAVEN parents who taught her how to work and is an acronym for “Loyalty, Enthusiasm, live on a farm. She started as a ten-year Anticipatory, Valiant, Effectiveness, and member of 4-H, an active member of Nurturing,” and these four women have FFA, winning the State FFA Degree, and these attributes.