Contact: Casey Langan, Executive Director of Public Relations, 608.828.5711
MADISON – Wisconsin’s largest general farm organization saw its membership grow in 2011.
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation ended its membership year in September with 44,123 members, an increase of 1,416 from the year prior, marking the fourth straight year of membership growth.
Farm Bureau membership is comprised of voting and associate members. Voting members are farmers, people with direct involvement in production agriculture, and owners of agricultural property. Associate members are individuals and businesses who join Farm Bureau to utilize services and benefits and to support the work of the organization.
Farm Bureau experienced growth in voting members, ending the membership year with 23,221, a gain of 495. Associate membership grew by 921 to 20,902.
Fifty-two of the 61 county Farm Bureaus reported an increase in voting members. The largest increases came in Walworth, Dane and Taylor counties. With a renewal rate of 93 percent for voting members, combined with 1,944 new voting members, the Farm Bureau achieved its increase in voting members for the seventh time in the last 10 years. In terms of total membership, 49 county Farm Bureaus saw increases in 2011.
“Wisconsin is an agriculturally diverse state and Wisconsin Farm Bureau membership represents the interests of farms of all sizes, commodities and management styles,” said Bob Leege, Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Executive Director of Member Relations. “Wisconsin farmers understand how Farm Bureau membership pays for itself with a variety of valuable benefits.”
Among the member benefits are a $500 private offer discount on eligible General Motors vehicles, a discount on AAA membership as well as many other travel and equipment discounts.
WFBF members work to develop grassroots policy that is lobbied in Madison and Washington on their behalf. A variety of programs provide networking and leadership development opportunities to members. In addition, WFBF assists farmers in sharing their stories with the non-farming public.
“Farm Bureau continues to grow because it provides the kind of representation and leadership that Wisconsin’s diverse and dynamic agricultural community needs,” said Bill Bruins, WFBF President. “Each year we build on our record of legislation successes, as well as provide a needed voice for agriculture in arenas ranging from the classroom to the courtroom. Much of our growth is thanks to our member leaders who work every day to carry agriculture’s message to the media, consumers and lawmakers.”
For more information on the Wisconsin Farm Bureau see http://www.wfbf.com.
