MDFB Annual Convention & Meeting of Delegates
Saturday, December 2, 2023 - Young Farmer NextGen Summit
Time | Event | Location |
10:00 AM | Ag Ambassador Closed Interviews | Schooner A & B |
11:00 AM | Registration Open | Windjammer |
12:00 PM | Young Farmer / NextGen Luncheon | Choptank Ballroom |
1:30 PM | Young Farmer / NextGen Summit
| Choptank Ballroom |
4:00 PM | State Ag Ambassador Discussion Meet | Choptank Ballroom |
5:30 PM | Young Farmers Discussion Meeting | Choptank Ballroom |
7:00 PM | Young Farmer Dinner & Social | Sponsored by Horizon Farm Credit | Bluepoint Provision Company |
Sunday, December 3, 2023 - Leadership Development, PAC, Opening Reception
Time | Event | Location |
8:00 AM | Trade Show Exhibitor Set-Up | Choptank Ballroom |
8:00 AM | Registration Open | Choptank Ballroom Hallway |
9:00 AM | Young Farmer Excellence in Ag & Achievement Award Interviews | Skipjack AB |
9:00 AM | Women’s Leadership Committee Annual Meeting
| Clipper A-B-C |
9:30 AM | Young Farmer Committee Business Meeting
| Galleon A-B-C |
11:00 AM | Young Farmer Discussion Meet – Finals | Galleon A-B-C |
11:45 AM | General Luncheon | Sponsored by F3 Tech
| Chesapeake Ballroom |
1:30 PM | Tackling Tough Topics & Public Speaking
| Galleon A-B-C |
2:00 PM | Trade Show and Exhibit Hall Open | Choptank Ballroom |
3:00 PM | DIY Panel: Equipment Manufacturers | Schooner AB |
4:00 PM | MFB Political Action Committee Meeting (invite only) | Skipjack AB |
7:00 PM | Grand Opening Reception | Sponsored by Crow Insurance Agency | Choptank Ballroom and Foyer |
Monday, December 4, 2023 - Policy Resolutions, Breakouts & Awards Banquet
Time | Event | Location |
7:00 AM | Registration/Exhibit Hall/Breakfast | Choptank Ballroom |
8:00 AM | Opening General Session | Chesapeake Ballroom |
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM | Morning Workshops:
| |
12:00 PM | General Luncheon | Sponsored by Maryland Nursery, Landscape & Greenhouse Association | Chesapeake Corridor E/F/G |
1:30 PM | Second General Session | Chesapeake Ballroom |
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM | Afternoon Workshops:
| |
5:30 PM | Dinner Reception | Sponsored by Nationwide | Choptank Ballroom |
6:15 PM | Awards Banquet & Scholarship Live Auction | Sponsored by Nationwide | Chesapeake Ballroom |
Tuesday, December 5, 2023 - District Caucus Meetings & Officer Elections
Time | Event | Location |
7:00 AM | Registration/Exhibit Hall/Breakfast | Choptank Ballroom |
8:15 AM | District Caucus (Elections for District Directors, Executive Committee, and PAC)
| Schooner/Clipper/Cutter |
9:30 AM | Closing General Session (Officer Elections) | Chesapeake Ballroom |
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED. Please call Lisa Storm at 410-922-3426 for any late registration accommodations.
Last Updated: 11/6/2023 – Schedule is Tentative and subject to change.
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
- 1:30 PM – Young Farmer / NextGen Summit Room: Galleon A-B-C
- Keynote Speaker: Maria Martinez, MERCK Animal Health
- Panel 1: “Growing a Diverse Agriculture Workforce” | Moderated by Allison Phibbs, MERCK Animal Health
- Brandon Boyer, Maryland FFA President
- Jayci Mitchell, MDFB Ag Ambassador
- Ethan Scofield, MDFB Ag Ambassador
- Mikayla Counts, MANRRS
- Rachel Zimmerman, 4-H
- Panel 2: “Farm Programs that Work for Young Farmers” | Moderated by Rick Deadwyler, Corteva
- Allison Roe, MARBIDCO
- Joanna Rohrer, Horizon Farm Credit
- Renee Wilson, The Farmyard
- 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 2025 in San Antonio) Room: Skipjack AB
- 9:00 AM – Women’s Leadership Committee Annual Meeting Room: Clipper A-B-C
- All day meeting! Includes a speaker, community service project, fashion show, and Paint-A-Sign with Shelia! RSVP Required for the Paint-A-Sign – contact Chris Catterton to Register.
- 9:30 AM – Young Farmer Committee Business Meeting Room: Schooner AB
- Breakout: Crops and Livestock Economic Outlook & Rural Entrepreneurship Opportunities for Beginning Producers
Presenters: Mark Townsend, Associate Agriculture Extension Educator, Frederick County & Charlie Sasscer, Prince George’s County Agriculture Marketing Extension Educator
- Breakout: Crops and Livestock Economic Outlook & Rural Entrepreneurship Opportunities for Beginning Producers
- 11:00 AM – Young Farmer Discussion Meet – Finals (Qualify for AFBF 2025 in San Antonio)
Room: Schooner AB - 11:45 AM – General Luncheon Sponsored By: F3 Tech | Speaker: Mike Thielke Chesapeake Ballroom ABCD
- 1:30 PM – Tackling Tough Topics and Public Speaking, Elise Stoddard Cruce, Managing Director, Leadership, American Farm Bureau Federation Room: Clipper A-B-C
- 3:00 PM – Trade Show and Exhibit Hall Open Location: Choptank Ballroom & Hallway
- 4:00 PM – MDFB Political Action Committee Meeting Room: Skipjack AB
- 4:00 PM – DIY Panel Sponsored by: John Deere, AGGO, Kubota, CNH
- 7:00 PM – Grand Opening Reception | Choptank Ballroom & Exhibit Hallway Sponsored by: Crow Insurance Agency
- 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
- Strategic Plan Presentation
- 11:00 am – 11:45 am – Morning Workshops
Preventing Fire: Exploring Innovative Protection Solutions, Nationwide
Presenter: Matt Ludwig, Senior Risk Management Consultant2024 Legislative Session Preview, Cornerstone Government Affairs
Presenter: Mac MiddletonAmerican Farm Bureau (AFBF) Promotion & Education Committee, AFBF
Presenter: Logan Yearsley, Director of Member EngagementConservation Easements 101, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy
Presenter: David Satterfield, Director of Land Conservation- The Maryland Climate-Smart Agriculture Project, Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology
Presenter: Terry Nuwer, Hughes Center Maryland Climate-Smart Agriculture Project Coordinator - How to Plan a Successful Day-in-Annapolis
Presenter: Tom Donnelly, American Farm Bureau Federation - Innovative Conservation Delivery to Enhance Farm Economics and Profitability
Presenter: The Keith Campbell Foundation - Protecting America’s Food Supply from Ransomware & Cyberattacks
Presenter: Colin Hamill - How to Best Utilize MDA’s Services
Presenter: Karen Fedor and Mark Powell, MDA
- 12:00 pm – General Luncheon Sponsored by: Maryland Nursery, Landscape and Greenhouse Association
- 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 Kevin Atticks
- LEAD Maryland Presentation
- Policy Resolutions Committee Report
- 4:00 pm – 4:45 pm
- Preventing Fire: Exploring Innovative Protection Solutions, Nationwide
Presenter: Matt Ludwig, Senior Risk Management Consultant - 2024 Legislative Session Preview, Cornerstone Government Affairs
Presenter: Mac Middleton - American Farm Bureau (AFBF) Promotion & Education Committee, AFBF
Presenter: Logan Yearsley, Director of Member Engagement - Conservation Easements 101, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy
Presenter: David Satterfield, Director of Land Conservation - The Maryland Climate-Smart Agriculture Project, Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology
Presenter: Terry Nuwer, Hughes Center Maryland Climate-Smart Agriculture Project Coordinator - How to Plan a Successful Day-in-Annapolis
Presenter: Tom Donnelly, American Farm Bureau Federation - Innovative Conservation Delivery to Enhance Farm Economics and Profitability
Presenter: The Keith Campbell Foundation Protecting America’s Food Supply from Ransomware & Cyberattack
Presenter: Colin HamillHow to Best Utilize MDA’s Services
Presenter: Karen Fedor and Mark Powell, MDA
- Preventing Fire: Exploring Innovative Protection Solutions, Nationwide
- 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: Matthew Schnebly
- District 2 – Room: Galleon B – Chair: Howie Feaga
- District 3 – Room: Galleon C – Chair: Karl Shlagel
- District 4 – Room: Clipper A – Chair: Amanda Miller
- District 5 – Room: Clipper B – Chair: Jennifer Debnam
- District 6 – Room: Clipper C – Chair: Far Nasir
- District 1 – Room: Galleon A – Chair: Matthew Schnebly
- 9:30 am – Room: Chesapeake Ballroom – Closing General Session (Officer Elections)
- Roll Call – Delegate Body
- Policy Resolutions Committee Report – Continued
- Officer Elections (President, First VP, Second VP)
- Final Motions
- Closing Remarks
Voting Delegate Credentials | MDFB & WLC Annual Meetings – Deadline Friday, November 3, 2023
Voting delegates from county Farm Bureaus, the Women’s Leadership Annual Meeting and Affiliate organizations must register for the convention using the link above. 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 Friday, November, 3, 2023 deadline, please contact Parker Welch directly
Nominations | Deadline – Wednesday, November 1, 2023
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 – president, 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 | Deadline – Friday, November 3, 2023
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 $1000, $1250, or $1500 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) Full Registration, one (1) six-foot table and two (2) chairs. Electric and wi-fi will be available. Exhibitors may register additional attendees at $260 per person.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
Please click here to download and read the exhibitor and sponsorship information in detail.
2023 MDFB Women’s Leadership Committee Annual Meeting
The MDFB Annual Meeting of Women will convene on Sunday, December 3, 2023 from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Each county Farm Bureau may appoint one WLC meeting delegate for every 40 regular/voting members (or portion thereof) to the Women’s Leadership Committee Annual Meeting. 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 Friday, November 3, 2023. If you cannot meet the November 3 deadline, please contact Parker Welch.
The WLC Annual Meeting will include a Business Meeting, Speaker, Community Project, Fashion Show, and Paint A Sign with Sheila (Wine & Gnosh – LIMITED SPACE) ! RSVP is required for the Paint A Sign. Contact Chris Catterton by November 3rd to RSVP.
Use the link/button at the top of the page to register delegates for the Women’s Leadership Committee Annual Meeting.
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.
Young Farmer Competitive Events & Committee Nominations | Deadline – Friday, November 17, 2023
Discussion Meet– To compete at the 2025 AFBF Convention in San Antonio, TX
Achievement Award – To compete at the 2025 AFBF Convention in San Antonio, TX
Excellence in Ag Award – To compete at the 2025 AFBF Convention in San Antonio, TX
2024-2026 MDFB Young Farmer State Committee Nominations– Districts 2, 4, and 6