Joe Diamond from the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau spoke to Agricultural Education classes at TAHS on January 28th about the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and how it impacts farmers.

The PA Farm Bureau is the state’s largest farm organization with a volunteer membership of more than 62,000 farm and rural families, representing farms of every size and type across the state.

“Joe Diamond really helped students to realize the importance of the PFB.  I also liked the fact he interacted with the students after the presentations to answer personal questions,” said FFA advisor Tiffany Hoy.

“The Tyrone Area FFA Chapter is a member of the bureau. I believe it is important for all of our members to understand the many opportunities the Farm Bureau offers them,” said  Hoy, “I think the citizens of Pennsylvania should understand the importance of how the Farm Bureau impacts our lives each day – from reassessment, Clean and Green, Chesapeake Bay, Avian Influenza, pension reform, Water of The United States (WOTUS), and PA budget for agriculture.”

Diamond also discussed the Fueling Agriculture and Cultivating Excellence (F.A.C.E) conference, which is a week-long youth conference that teaches students the importance of Farm Bureau’s grassroots legislative process by allowing them to experience it first-hand.  Students at the conference will be a part of collaborative workshops, presentations made by individuals from the agriculture industry, and many other fun activities.

Highlights of the conference include Ag Olympics, a picnic, speak out panel, movie night, keynote speaker, formal dinner, creating a Facebook Page, and teambuilding activities.

“The chapter will be hosting the PA Farm Bureau Mobile Ag Lab in March,” said FFA President Brandon Decker.

“By having individuals like Mr. Diamond speak to our classes, we can help them make connections in the community, share knowledge, and also show them how we are all connected within our small community,” said Daniel Peterson, chair of Community Connections committee.