MDFB Annual Convention & Meeting of Delegates
Last Updated: 8/9/2023
The 2023 Maryland Farm Bureau Annual Convention & Meeting of Delegates will be held December 2-5, 2023 at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina in Cambridge, Maryland.
Changes made to room reservations after November 3 will incur a $5.00 fee per change.
- 10:00 AM – Ag Ambassador Closed Interviews Room: Schooner A & B
- 11:00 AM – Registration Open – Location: Choptank Ballroom Hallway
- 12:00 PM – Young Farmer / NextGen Luncheon Room: Galleon A-B-C Sponsored by:
- 1:30 PM – Young Farmer / NextGen Summit Room: Galleon A-B-C Sponsored by: MERCK Animal Health
- 4:00 PM – State Ag Ambassador Discussion Meet Room: Galleon A-B-C
- 5:30 PM – Young Farmer Discussion Meeting – Round 1 Room: Galleon A-B-C
- 7:00 PM – Young Farmer Dinner & Social Location: Bluepoint Provision Company Sponsored by: Farm Credit
- 8:00 AM – Trade Show Exhibitor Set-Up Location: Choptank Ballroom & Hallway
- 9:00 AM – Registration Open Location: Choptank Ballroom Hallway
- 9:00 AM – Young Farmer Excellence in Ag & Achievement Award Interviews (Qualify for AFBF 2024 in Salt Lake City) Room: Skipjack AB
- 10:00 AM – Annual Meeting of Farm Bureau Women Room: Clipper A-B-C
- 10:00 AM – Young Farmer Committee Business Meeting Room: Schooner AB
- 11:00 AM – Young Farmer Discussion Meet – Finals (Qualify for AFBF 2024 in Salt Lake City)
Room: Schooner AB - 11:45 AM – Leadership Luncheon Room: Chesapeake Ballroom ABCD
- 1:30 PM – County Leader Preconference Room: Clipper A-B-C
- 1:30 PM – Women’s Leadership Blanket Activity Room: Schooner AB
- 2:00 PM – MDFB GO Team – Advanced Training (By Invitation Only) Room: Skipjack AB
- 4:00 PM – MDFB Political Action Committee Meeting Room: Skipjack AB
- 5:00 pm – Trade Show Preview Room: Choptank Ballroom
- 5:30 pm – County President’s Dinner (by invite only) Room: Chesapeake Ballroom EFG
Sponsored by: Nationwide - 7:00 pm – President’s Grand Opening Reception Location: Choptank Ballroom & Exhibit Hallway Sponsored by: Corteva Agriscience
- 7:00 am – Room: Choptank Ballroom – Registration/Exhibit Hall/Continental Breakfast
- 8:00 am – Room: Chesapeake Ballroom – Opening General Session
- Welcome from President Stafford
- Greetings from Nationwide
- Credentials Committee Report
- Roll Call – Delegate Body
- Audit Committee Report
- Keynote: Matt Rush
- 10:30 am – Room: Choptank Ballroom – Exhibit Hall Opens
- 11:00 am – 11:45 am – Morning Workshops
- Planning for Sunset – Estate/Tax Planning Preparation for 2026 – Eric Vinores, Nationwide
- Lease Builder Demo – Sarah Everhart, ALEI – Univ. of Maryland
- Ag Economic Outlook – Veronica Nigh, AFBF
- Legislative Session Preview – Cornerstone
- Leadership Follow-up – Matt Rush
- Finding Your Farm Side Hustle to Create Value-Added Income
Presented by SMADC and Grow & Fortify - Grassroots Advocacy – CropLife America & The Clyde Group
- Equipment Manufacturers
- Membership Roundtable – MDFB Membership & PR Advisory Committee
- 12:00 pm – Room: Chesapeake Ballroom – Delegate Luncheon
- 1:30 pm – Room: Chesapeake Ballroom – Second General Session
- Nominations Committee Report
- State of the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, University of Maryland – Dr. Craig Beyrouty
- State of the Maryland Department of Agriculture – Secretary Joe Bartenfelder
- Policy Resolutions Committee Report
- 4:00 pm – 4:45 pm – Afternoon Workshops
- Planning for Sunset – Estate/Tax Planning Preparation for 2026 – Eric Vinores, Nationwide
- Lease Builder Demo – Sarah Everhart, ALEI – Univ. of Maryland
- Ag Economic Outlook – Veronica Nigh, AFBF
- Legislative Session Preview – Cornerstone
- Finding Your Farm Side Hustle to Create Value-Added Income
Presented by SMADC and Grow & Fortify - Ag Education Toolkit for Farm Bureaus – Susanne Richards, MAEF
- Grassroots Advocacy – CropLife America & The Clyde Group
- Equipment Manufacturers
- Membership Roundtable – MDFB Membership & PR Advisory Committee
- 5:30 pm – Room: Choptank Ballroom – Dinner Reception
- 6:15 pm – Room: Chesapeake Ballroom – Awards Banquet & Scholarship Fund Live Auction Sponsored by: Nationwide
- 7:00 am – Room: Choptank Ballroom – Registration/Exhibit Hall/Continental Breakfast
- 8:15 am – District Caucus (Elections for District Directors, Executive Committee, and PAC)
- District 1 – Room: Galleon A – Chair: Billy Bishoff
- District 2 – Room: Galleon B – Chair: Ashley Barber
- District 3 – Room: Galleon C – Chair: Jamie Tiralla
- District 4 – Room: Clipper A – Chair: Jo-Ann Chason
- District 5 – Room: Clipper B – Chair: Marshal Cahall
- District 6 – Room: Clipper C – Chair: Mary Lou Brown
- District 1 – Room: Galleon A – Chair: Billy Bishoff
- 9:30 am – Room: Chesapeake Ballroom – Closing General Session (Officer Elections)
- Roll Call – Delegate Body
- Policy Resolutions Committee Report – Continued
- Officer Elections (First VP, Second VP)
- LEAD Maryland Presentation
- Final Motions
- Closing Remarks – State President
- 11:45 am – Room: Chesapeake Ballroom – Closing Lunch
- Lunch Speaker –
Voting Delegate Credentials | MDFB & WLC Annual Meetings – Deadline Sunday, November 6, 2022
Voting delegates from county Farm Bureaus, program committees, and affiliate organizations must register for the convention using the link above. In the registration process, you will be asked to check a box if you are registering to be a voting delegate for the MDFB Annual Meeting and/or the WLC Annual Meeting of Farm Bureau Women. The state office will verify all delegate credentials to ensure an accuracy in the delegate body. All delegates must be dues-paid members in good standing. If you cannot meet the Sunday, November 6, 2022 deadline, please contact John Torres directly.
Nominations | Deadline Sunday, November 6, 2022
The board of directors request that all those who intend to be nominated for or self-nominate for the position of district director to the state board of directors, executive committee of the state board of directors, committee members of the Maryland Farm Bureau Political Action Committee, and officers of the state board of directors – first vice president, and second vice president; submit their nominations in advance to the Corporate Secretary through the use of an official electronic nominations form.
Use the links/buttons at the top of the page to access the online nomination forms.
Trade Show Exhibitors & Convention Sponsors
The MDFB Convention & Meeting of Delegates will once again host a trade show open to business and industry partners, government agencies, and affiliate member organizations. Exhibit booth space may be reserved for $500, $600, or $750 depending if exhibitors would like a standard, prime or premium location. Please see the trade show booth chart for locations and pricing. Exhibitors will be provided with one (1) all-inclusive registration (not including preconference meals & events), one (1) six-foot table and two (2) chairs along with one (1) convention registration. Electric and wi-fi will be available. Exhibitors may register additional attendees at a reduced price of $200 per person.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
Please click here to download and read the exhibitor and sponsorship information in detail.
2022 MDFB Women’s Leadership Committee Annual Meeting Notice
The MDFB Annual Meeting of Women will convene on Sunday, December 4, 2022 at 10:00 am.
Each county Farm Bureau may appoint one WLC meeting delegate for every 40 regular/voting members (or portion thereof) to the Annual Meeting of Women. This is the same number of delegates that each county has for the full MDFB delegate body. Please submit the names of your Annual Meeting of Women delegates using an online credentials application portal by Sunday, November 6, 2022. If you cannot meet the November 6 deadline, please contact Parker Welch.
Use the link/button at the top of the page to register delegates for the Annual Meeting of Women.
2022 County Leader Pre-conference – Sunday, December 4
This year, we will be holding a special pre-conference session design specifically for county Farm Bureau leaderships – presidents, secretaries and board members. Join us as we dive into essential leadership lessons to help you guide your county Farm Bureau to success.
Speakers include staff from the American Farm Bureau Federation who will help you develop strong communications skills around tough policy topics, Mariner Management’s Peter Houstle and Peggy Hoffman will help you find ways to grow volunteer engagement at the county level, and Maryland Farm Bureau organization and field staff will guide you through how to make that very important ASK to recruit new people to become members of your county Farm Bureau.
The County Leader Pre-conferece will begin with the Leadership Luncheon at 11:45 AM in the Chesapeake Ballroom followed by the formal program. All who attend the County Leader Pre-conference are invited to stay for the President’s Grand Opening Reception to kick-off the 2022 MDFB Annual Convention & Meeting of Delegates starting at 7:00 PM.
County presidents and their spouse/guest are invited to join President Stafford for his annual County President’s Dinner sponsored by Nationwide Sunday evening at 5:30 PM prior to the Grand Opening Reception.
2022 Young Farmer Competitive Events & Committee Nominations
Discussion Meet – To compete at the 2024 AFBF Convention in Salt Lake City
Achievement Award – To compete at the 2024 AFBF Convention in Salt Lake City
Excellence in Ag Award – To compete at the 2024 AFBF Convention in Salt Lake City