Jim Beason, Chautauqua County Farm Bureau Association president, traveled to Washington, D.C. on Sunday, March 7, to the 30th annual County President’s Trip to Washington, D.C.  Beason met with other Kansas Farm Bureau county presidents, American Farm Bureau Federation staff, the Kansas Congressional delegation and other members of Congress.  KFB’s primary focus for this year’s trip was to educate urban Congressional members about current issues facing agriculture.  The areas of focus were international trade, estate taxes, energy and regulatory policy from EPA.

The trip also provided an opportunity to visit with other county presidents about their local programs that have been successful. The results of the trip are an exchange of information and influence that benefit Farm Bureau members, people involved in agriculture and those communities that provide goods and services to Kansas agriculture.

The Kansas delegation was divided into groups of 6-10 individuals.  Each group, led by a KFB director, visited two different legislators.  Some urban Senators and Representatives were unable to find time to meet with a farm organization and people who were not their constituents even though attempts to make appointments had been made weeks in advance.  Others dedicated considerable staff resources to the group’s arrival and were interested in their input.  The group also met with Kathleen Merrigan, deputy secretary of the USDA.

The experience helped all who attended understand the process and importance of exercising political pressure where possible.  But more than that, it made clear to those who create and enforce the laws that KFB is watching, not just on behalf of agriculture producers, but on behalf of everyone who understands the value of agriculture to the national economy.

After three very intense days, the fourth was set aside for all to see the nation’s Capitol at their own pace.  Many visited Washington’s Monument, the White House, the Kennedy Center, the Smithsonian Museums, the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court and the House and Senate galleries.  All the presidents and their families returned home Thursday, March 12, with experiences to share with their communities and local county Farm Bureau Boards.

For more information on Chautauqua County Farm Bureau, member benefits and additional photographs of Washington, D.C., visit the facebook page at <chautauquafb@kfb.org.

Read the comments of the editor of Kansas Farmer magazine, P.J. Griekspoor, who was also in attendance, Google Kansas Farmer magazine under news and look for her blog.