Tippecanoe County Farm Bureau

February 20, 2007 Meeting Report

Lloyd Leamon made a motion to accept the November and January board minutes. Kenneth Miller seconded his motion, with no additions or corrections, and it passed. Sue Leamon made a motion to approve the November and December check register, we had no January check register. Alan Kemper seconded her motion and it too passed. Kevin then introduced Rick and Kathy Bennett, from Shelby Township, to the board members.

INSURANCE - Gary Brownlee, agency manager, said agent Terry Mason has retired but will be full time Farm Bureau Crop Insurance Agent now. Gary is interested in hiring two full time agents, one for the east side office and one for the main office. The east side office move is working well but bigger and better outdoor signs are needed.

YOUNG FARMERS - Josh Cox reported a district meeting is planned for February 22. They are still having local basketball meetings and four from our county attended the Young Farmer Conference in late January.

COMMODITY - Lloyd said some changes have been made for A~ Days, March 20 and 21. The booth "stops", the 4th graders will make, will be for 7 minutes each, they were 3 minutes in the past, so

Farm Bureau will only have one booth rather than two. He hopes to have a committee meeting soon and asked for help with Ag Days. He thanked Gary and Farm Bureau Insurance for the door prizes they donated for the Pork Producers Annual meeting.

LOCAL AFFAIRS - Kevin plans a dinner meeting with some school board members on Monday March 26. A Farm Bureau board meeting will follow at a place to be determined.

STATE LEGISLATIVE - Larry Underwood explained the Corn Checkoff bill now in the State Senate. He said livestock farmers and livestock feeders are important to grain farmers and some environment regulations are often discouraging to farmers with livestock. Lloyd remarked the county Pork Producers are having a meeting February 26 with a person from I~PACT with information on expanding your operation with new buildings and the permits needed.

NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE - Alan said one of the things being worked on for the new farm bill is crop insurance.

MEMBERSHIP - Dale Workman, 1st Vice President, reported our county has 867 voting members. signed up with 4256 total county members or 72% of goal.

INFORMATION - Roger Verhey, 2nd Vice President, reported for Ellen DeFreese. With so few newsletters going out Roger made a motion we do away with the County Newsletter and send minutes to those who are still interested. Kathleen Miller seconded the motion and it carried.

PUBLIC RELATIONS - Roger said plastic bags, with Farm Bureau logo) have been received for Ag Days and are at the extension office. He plans a committee meeting soon for planning the Hands On Trucks exhibit, at the Imagination Station programs, set for June 2nd.

ANNUAL MEETING - Kevin said it was agreed to charge $5.00 for dinner tickets to the Annual Meeting March 5th. Sue Leamon will do table decorations and door prizes. The-set-up committee will meet at the fair grounds at 1 p.m. that day and they are; Kathleen, Roger, Larry, Rick and Lloyd.

The board made nominations for delegates to the Indiana Farm Bureau delegate session on August 25, in Indianapolis, they are; Roger Verhey, Kevin Underwood, Lloyd Leamon, Dale Workman, Jason Buck, Larry Underwood, Nancy Verhey, David Korty, Rick Bennett, George Lumley, and Craig Fuller. Nancy moved nominations be closed, Dave 2nd and motion carried.

BUDGET - The committee reviewed and made changes for the 2007 budget and they had been passed out at both the January and February meetings. Alan moved the 2007 budget be accepted as presented, Roger 2nd the motion and it carried.

The officers had talked about some of the things they expected from board members and committee chairs should be responsible for during the calendar year. Kevin then prepared a sheet of all those ideas and presented it to the board. After reviewing this "sheet" Roger moved we accept these recommendations as written, Larry seconded and it passed. Kevin asked all committee chairs make their own committee list so we will all have an updated list.

The last couple meetings we have been entertained by very musical cell phones going off. One cell phone kept hiding in a fairly large bag and the other in a shirt pocket that refused to let it's button be undone. We all needed a good laugh.

Sue moved to adjourn and Larry seconded.

Refreshments were served by Wabash Township directors Mary Ann and Dale Workman.

Submitted by Eleanor Laffoon-Altepeter, Secretary/Treasurer

Attending; Dale Workman, Mary Ann Workman, Lloyd Leamon, Kenneth Miller, David A. Korty, Kathy Bennett, Rick Bennett, Sue Leamon, Jeanise Buck, Josh Cox, Craig Fuller, Larry Underwood, Roger Verhey, Nancy Verhey, Betsy Underwood, Kathleen Miller, Annette Korty, Alan Kemper, Gary Brownlee, Kevin Underwood, Eleanor Laffoon

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