Idaho Farm Bureau elects new president

POCATELLO – Caldwell farmer Matt Dorsey is the new president of Idaho Farm Bureau Federation, the state’s largest general farm organization.

IFBF represents about 11,000 families who are actively engaged in agriculture in Idaho.

Dorsey, 53, was elected president Dec. 5 during the organization’s 86^th annual meeting, which was held this year in Coeur d’Alene.

Bryan Searle, who had served as IFBF president since December 2015, announced last year he would not run for reelection. Presidents are elected or reelected for two-year terms.

Doug Barrie of Idaho Falls was elected as vice president.

Dorsey, who has been involved with Farm Bureau for almost 20 years, owns a conventional and organic row crop farm in the Sunny Slope area of Caldwell. He also owns a small cow-calf operation and feedlot.

He said that as president he plans to do a lot of listening to Farm Bureau members.

“When we know more about what their needs are, we can better defend them and promote their interests,” he said.

He said it’s Farm Bureau’s role to know what challenges farmers and ranchers face and to speak on their behalf.

“If Farm Bureau can’t say it for our producers, who can?” he said.

Speaking of Dorsey, Fremont County Farm Bureau President Val Hammond said, “It’s an honor to speak in support of someone … whose life, work and character are deeply woven into the fabric of Idaho agriculture.”

“It's obvious that he loves Idaho Farm Bureau and he wants to see this organization succeed,” said Canyon County farmer Miguel Villafana.

After being elected as the organization’s vice president, Barrie, who farms near Idaho Falls, told members he is excited for the future.

“We have a bright future,” he said. “I look out at you guys and I’m excited for what we can do and … where we can go.”

Speaking of Barrie, Fremont County Vice President Greg Nedrow said, “Doug embodies all the characteristics of a strong, intelligent leader. He approaches challenges with creativity, resilience and a genuine desire to make a meaningful impact. I’m confident he will bring the same level of excellence and dedication (to Farm Bureau.)”

Searle, a potato farmer from Shelley, told Farm Bureau members he leaves the president’s position “with a flood of memories and most of them center around you.”

“You’ve elected me to serve you and I’ve done the best that I could to do that,” he said. “It’s been a privilege to serve as president of this great organization.”

He received two standing ovations.

Several hundred Farm Bureau members from around the state attended the annual IFBF meeting Dec. 2-5. While numerous events are held during the conference, the main purpose is for voting delegates from each of the state’s 38 county Farm Bureau organizations to vote on IFBF policy.

Idaho Farm Bureau Federation’s policy book contains more than 150 policies on various issues, ranging from water to wolves. These policies are the marching orders that grassroots members, who are farmers and ranchers, develop for the organization.

This year, voting delegates from the various county Farm Bureaus approved a policy aimed at updating state rules that hinder direct to consumer sales by farmers and ranchers.

“The rules need to be brought up to date to account for the increase in direct-to-consumer sales in Idaho,” reads the reason for the policy, which was proposed by the Bannock and Clearwater-Lewis county Farm Bureaus.

The voting delegates also approved a new policy that supports an increase in state funding for traffic studies on rural highways.

A large increase in vehicle trips on Idaho roads at times impedes agricultural vehicles, said Gordon Cruickshank of Valley-Adams Farm Bureau, which proposed the new policy. He said the increase in traffic impacts farmers and ranchers as they move equipment, haul commodities, or move livestock, increasing the cost of production.

More passing lanes, slow vehicle turnouts and alternative routes could improve traffic flow on some of Idaho’s rural highways, he said.

“It’s the rural, two-lane highways that we’re trying to get some attention to,” said Cruickshank, president of VAFB.

During the meeting, Carl and Linda Montgomery of Jerome County were presented with the President’s Cup Award, which is the organization’s highest honor and goes to a person or individuals who have committed themselves to Farm Bureau and agriculture. 

The Montgomerys have been involved with Farm Bureau for 50 years. Carl has served as IFBF’s vice president and both he and Linda have served as president of Jerome County Farm Bureau.

“Wonderful, wonderful people,” Searle said of the couple. “They are very deserving of the President’s Cup.”

Carl Montgomery said the most important part of his Farm Bureau involvement over the years has been the friends he made within the organization.

“That’s the most important thing to me about Farm Bureau, the friends that I made,” he said. “I appreciate each and every one of you.”

This year’s meeting was held in conjunction with IFBF’s Fusion Conference, which is jointly held by the organization’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee and its Promotion and Engagement Committee.

IFBF’s YF&R program is open to Farm Bureau members between the ages of 18 and 35. Several YF&R awards were presented during the conference.

Matt and Jessica Henderson of Swan Lake were presented with the Achievement Award, which recognizes young farmers or ranchers who have excelled in their farming or ranching operation and honed their leadership abilities.

Achievement Award contestants are evaluated on a combination of their farming operation’s growth and financial progress and their leadership both within Farm Bureau and outside of the organization.

Contestants give a presentation to a panel of judges, who ask them questions.

Marquee Ricks of Madison County received IFBF’s Excellence in Agriculture Award, which spotlights young Farm Bureau members who are connected to agriculture but have not earned a majority of their income from an owned production agriculture enterprise in the past three years.

Competitors for the Excellence award are judged based on their understanding of ag issues as well as their leadership experiences and achievements.

Bradie Anderson of Grace won IFBF’s annual Discussion Meet, which helps young producers hone their public speaking and problem-solving skills during a competition that is meant to simulate a committee meeting rather than a debate.

The contestants, who moderate themselves and engage each other in a cooperative manner, discuss a pre-selected topic and are judged based on constructive criticism, cooperation and communication.

A special Collegiate Discussion Meet, which featured students from University of Idaho, College of Southern Idaho and BYU-Idaho, was won by Abby Foruria, who is studying general agriculture at CSI.