Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation

Communications - tennssee Farm Bureau Federation (tfbf) leaders and members are informed through multifacited communication efforts. Two publications inform all members. The "Tennessee Farm Bureau news" is sent to approximately 62,000 farmer members bi-monthly and speaks to current agricultural issues. Our award winning magazine "Tennessee home and Farm," is delivered to 680,000 plus members quarterly, and educates all members about agriculture. In addition, newspaper articles, daily radio programming and television stories are made available to local, state, and national media market outlets. Tfbf developed videos are used at training meetings as well as county meetings. The internet website, blast emails, facebook, twitter and other social media are used to communicate Tennessee agriculture.

Public policy - the foremost mission of tfbf is to represent Tennessee farmers' interests at the local, state, national, and international levels of government. Grassroots public policy is developed by working with farmer leaders within our ninety-five county Farm bureaus. Tfbf staff coordinates with farmer leaders to communicate and defend this policy in legislative and regulatory bodies at the local, state, and national level. We work with other state Farm bureaus through our national affiliate, the american Farm Bureau Federation, to represent our farmer members' interests on the international level. Every activity promoted by tfbf has the objective of supporting and enhancing tfbf's public policy efforts.

Leadership - informed farmer leadership is the starting place for accomplishing our mission. Without member leaders, we would be unable to accomplish our mission. Leadership development opportunities are provided for farmer leaders through our state and national annual meetings, statewide conferences (presidents, Farm Bureau women, and young farmers and ranchers) and regional meetings (policy development, legislative awareness, Farm Bureau women, and young farmers and ranchers). Numerous other special issue meetings provide leadership training opportunities for our member farmer leaders. Staff hold local traning sessions with new county presidents and with county board and committee members. Tfbf also cooperates with allied agricultural groups in regional leadership training programs.