Delaware Farm Bureau (DEFB) is excited to announce its upcoming two-day conference, scheduled for December 13-14, 2024, at the Modern Maturity Center, located at 1121 Forrest Ave, Dover, DE 19904. The event will feature the organization's annual meeting of delegates, informative breakout sessions, and the annual banquet. 

The conference will begin on Friday, December 13, with check-in and breakfast starting at 7:30 AM. The Annual Meeting of Delegates will kick off promptly at 8:30 AM, followed by lunch, sponsored by Nationwide, at 12:30 PM. After lunch, all attendees, including delegates, Farm Bureau members, and community members, are invited to participate in the afternoon breakout sessions.

Friday's breakout sessions will feature speakers from American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), and the Delaware Water Supply Coordinating Council (WSCC). 

Austin Large, AFBF Senior Director of Membership and Organization Development, will present on membership engagement and retention strategies, while, concurrently, the WSCC discusses the drought implications and salt intrusion. AFBF Economist, Betty Resnick will give an economic update, while DNREC holds a discussion on deer damage in Delaware.

On Saturday, December 14, the morning sessions will focus on personal and professional development. The day will begin with a presentation from Nationwide titled “A Will is not a Transition Plan.” Attendees will then break into small groups for a fun, team-building Gingerbread House Competition, where participants will collaborate using each team member's strengths to construct the best design. The gingerbread houses will be voted on at the annual banquet and the top team will receive an award. 

The morning sessions will conclude with a leadership and professional development workshop led by David Hafner. Hafner, a seasoned agricultural advocate and educator, has extensive experience with Farm Bureau, 4-H, and FFA programs. His session will focus on practical strategies for leadership growth, drawing on his experience coordinating interactive learning experiences at local, state, and national levels. Attendees can expect to leave the session with better public speaking skills and a greater understanding of leading the multi-generational workforce. A complimentary lunch will follow to close out the morning.

The conference will conclude with the DEFB Annual Banquet on Saturday evening. Doors will open at 5:00 PM, with dinner served at 6:00 PM. The banquet will feature award presentations, a silent and live auction, live music by Quade Gannon, a photo booth, and line dancing. This is the only paid event of the conference. Tickets are $40 per person, and those wishing to attend are encouraged to RSVP in advance by contacting Jan Cartanza at 302-697-3183 or via email at Jan.Cartanza@defb.org. 

DEFB looks forward to welcom­ing members and the community to this exciting and informative event. To register for the two-day confer­ence, call the state office at 302-697-3183 by November 29th or visit https://defb.org/annual-convention/. 

For more information on Dela­ware Farm Bureau, visit defb.org. 

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