FUSION Conference offers networking, leadership training

Montana Farm Bureau brought 55 people to the American Farm Bureau FUSION Conference Feb. 10-13 in Pittsburgh.

The FUSION Conference is a bi-annual gathering bringing together members of Collegiate Farm Bureaus, along with Young Farmer and Rancher; Women’s Leadership; and Promotion and Education committees to develop leadership skills. Only Pennsylvania, Indiana and North Carolina had more members from the 36 states attending. MFBF not only had WLC and P&E members, but collegiate groups from Montana State University in Bozeman, Miles Community College and University of Montana-Western.

The event included a number of networking lunches; workshops weren’t organized by committee topics but by subjects including: advocacy, business, collegiate, communication, education, leadership, rural development and technology. Sessions featured speakers or panels as well as hands-on training.

One of the 55 MFBF members attending was Gretchen Schubert, who serves as the Montana Women’s Leadership Committee chair. Schubert noted although collegiate Farm Bureau members outnumbered other attendees, the networking lunches provided a good time to meet new people of all ages.

“At the first luncheon, each table had a sign with a commodity, so you sat at the table depicting the commodity you raise. Commodities varied for everything from rice to beef cattle, gardening to hydroponics,” Schubert said. “It was interesting to hear how farmers on the east coast with small herds of cattle have the capability of putting them in the barn during inclement weather. What amazed me was a couple from Nevada with irrigated hay ground who got 10 cuttings of alfalfa every year.”

Schubert said her favorite workshop was on women in leadership roles.

“Our speaker explained that out of the CEOs of the Fortune 500 companies, only 22 are women,” she said. “As women, we need to broaden the scope of what we can achieve and strongly support the women who want to advance in leadership roles in business and politics.”

The Huntley rancher said the closing speaker, Charles Petty, had an inspirational message.

“Be the best person you can. Be kind and do what you think is right. American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall had a similar message at the closing session, saying no matter how busy you are, take time for friends, neighbors and being involved,” she said.

Jennifer Bergin, who sits on the Montana Farm Bureau Board of Directors and on the AFBF and MFBF and P&E committees, said she plans to propose adapting Pennsylvania Farm Bureau’s educational program in Montana.

“They have a traveling farm fair with stations that can be set up in classrooms, at fairs and at school events,” she said. “We received the whole workbook on re-creating this in our home states.”

Bergin, who has completed two-years in the AFBF Partners in Advocacy Leadership program, served on a panel about using social media to tell your story.

“I told them even if you’re in a rural area, you don’t have to be lonely,” she said. “Share your photos and videos. We made a video at our ranch of corn chopping that we’ve shared on social media. Videos are a great way to educate non-farm consumers about agriculture.”

Yellowstone County Farm Bureau YF&R Chair Katie Kratky said her leadership role in the county Farm Bureau was a catalyst for attending.