The Utah Farm Bureau Federation is a voluntary membership organization dedicated to increasing the net value of agriculture and making the quality of life better for all Utahns. The Bureau part of the name came about because the first farm bureau was formed as a “bureau” of the Broome County, New York, Chamber of Commerce. The Federation part of the name shows that the organization gets its direction from the members who then select representatives to carry their decisions and messages to the State level. The Utah Farm Bureau Federation has been in existence since 1916.
Mr. Booth Wallentine, the Utah Farm Bureau Federation CEO for 30 years, said that freedom and agriculture are important, but that freedom came first, according to Ron Gibson, current president of the Weber County Farm Bureau Federation, and his brother, Kerry Gibson, who has been extensively involved with the Utah Farm Bureau at the county, state, and national levels.
The Utah Farm Bureau does essentially three things. It educates others on the value of agriculture. It promotes agriculture and agricultural products including good pricing for those who produce an agricultural product, and it supports public policy decisions that are in accordance with the Farm Bureau’s goals.
Matt Hargreaves, Information Officer for the Farm Bureau says the last one is the highest priority. He says: “We work together with our members to discuss issues and come up with our own answers to problems. Rather than just complaining about something, we try to do something about it. This applies to issues ranging from fencing to rural highways, to water infrastructure, public land grazing, to family values and principles of freedom. Then we also work to as a leadership development organization, to help our members be the best advocates for agriculture they can be.
“Farm Bureau is an independent, non-governmental, voluntary organization of farm and ranch families united for the purpose of addressing their problems and formulating action to achieve educational improvement, economic opportunity and social advancement and, thereby, to promote the national well-being. Farm Bureau is local, county, state, national and international in its scope and influence and is non-partisan, non-sectarian and non-secret in character. Farm Bureau is the voice of agricultural producers at all levels.”
“We also believe that property rights are among the human rights essential to the preservation of individual freedom. We believe in being good stewards of the land strive to do our part to be good neighbors and to protect and enhance the image of the agricultural industry. We recognize the need to extend ourselves in the communities in which we live and assisting our neighbors and the general public in comprehending the benefits and positive impacts agriculture has on society and understand our responsibilities therein.”
In 2011, the Utah Farm Bureau Federation declared its beliefs as follows in resolutions adopted by the voting delegates on November 18, 2011 for 2012. Similar resolutions were adopted in 2012 for 2013:
“America’s unparalleled progress is based on freedom and dignity of the individual, sustained by basic moral and religious concepts.
“Economic progress, cultural advancement, ethical and religious principles flourish best where people are free, responsible individuals. Individual freedom and opportunity must not be sacrificed in a quest for guaranteed security.
“We believe in government by legislative and constitutional law, impartially administered, without special privilege.
“We believe in the representative form of government—a republic—as provided in the Constitution; in limitations upon government power; in maintenance of equal opportunity; in the right of each individual to practice freedom of worship, speech, press, and peaceful assembly.
“Individuals have a moral responsibility to help preserve freedom for future generations by participating in public affairs and by helping to elect candidates who share their fundamental beliefs and principles…
The Utah Farm Bureau certainly is dedicated to freedom and agriculture.
