Brandi Kruse - keynote speaker - Wednesday Lunch
“I came to the conclusion if I wanted to do my best work—my best work for the public—I didn't believe I could work for corporate media and work for the public at the same time."
Brandi Kruse is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and political commentator. After nearly a decade with the FOX affiliate in Seattle she left to launch [un]Divided, an independent political show and podcast that gives a voice to Americans who have been drowned out by the fringes. Brandi is a Minnesota native and graduate of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Nebraska. She lives in east King County with her fiance and two rescue dogs.
2022 breakouts
Make plans to learn from these great speakers! Breakout sessions will be held Wednesday November 16, 2022
Austin Large
Wednesday Breakfast Keynote
Wed. Workshop: 10:45 - 11:45
"Meaningful Meetings"
Austin joined the AFBF Leadership, Education, & Engagement department as the Director, Membership & Organization Development in September 2021.
As the AFBF Director of Membership and Organization Development, Austin develops resources and tools to support state Farm Bureaus in marketing membership & recruiting members, support state field staff development.
David Townsend
Wed. Workshop: 9:15 - 10:15, 1:45 - 2:45
"Leadership Succession Planing for County FB"
David is the Assistant Director for Member Engagement at AFBF. While he always had an interest in food, his intro to agriculture didn’t take place until high school. Since, he's been passionate about promoting agriculture and the power of youth leadership. Townsend manages the development of the Collegiate FB program, relationships with youth agricultural organizations
and coordinates of the YF&R Discussion Meet.
Tim Bernasek
Wednesday 9:15 - 10:15
"Growing Tools for Stronger Farm Bureaus"
Tim Bernasek focuses on agriculture and natural resources law, as well as administrative, real estate, employment, & business law. He serves as legal counsel to the Oregon Farm Bureau Federation. He leads Dunn Carney’s Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources Team, as well as an active member of the Employment & Real Estate/Land Use Teams. For over 20 years, Tim has honed his legal skills while immersed in the agriculture industry.
Sean Worley
Wednesday 10:45 - 11:45
2022 Labor & Employment Law Update
Sean is a litigator in Yakima, Wa and represents private & municipal employers in labor and employment matters. He is a former Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with the Yakima County Prosecuting Attorneys Office where he worked in the Corporate Counsel Division, District Court Unity and Special Assault Unit. Most recently, Sean spent six years at a Yakima firm assisting clients in labor and employment matters.
Pam Lewison
Wednesday 1:45 - 2:45
Public Policy Updates from Washington Policy Center
Pam is a fourth-generation farmer from Moses Lake where she and her husband raise alfalfa, teff, corn, & other row crops in rotation along with a small herd of goats & a few beef cattle. She is the Agriculture Research Director for the Washington Policy Center’s Agriculture Center. In addition to her work with WPC, Pam runs a small ag communications company, ParadigmAg, & volunteers on numerous boards and committees.
Maureen Harkcom
Wednesday 9:15 - 10:15
Medicare Made Simple: When you qualify for Medicare you are sent the 130 page book “Medicare & You”. Need help understanding all of the information? Come learn and ask questions about Medicare Supplement plans, Medicare Advantage plans, and Medicare Prescription Drug plans.
Maureen has been a Farm Bureau member for about 20 years but is a relative newcomer to the insurance world. She first licensed and certified in 2017 and is with the We Speak Medicare agency.
Venise Cunningham
Wednesday 9:15 - 10:15, 10:45 - 11:45
Digital Media Tools of the Trade
Venise Cunningham is co-owner of Simple Goodness sisters. She transformed her 10 acre farm previously used as a commercial dairy to the world’s first cocktail farm. Venise grows fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Together with her sister, she transforms her crops into simple syrups that are sold online and at their brick and mortar restaurant and tasting room.
Alyssa Wade
Wednesday 1:45 - 2:45
QPR Training & Cerfication
Alyssa started working for the Farm Stress and Suicide Prevention Program with WSU Extension in early 2022. She has worked all over the country in various fields of agriculture including dairy, beef, equine, horticulture and even meat processing. She feels that those experiences aid her in understanding the unique needs of agricultural workers and looks forward to being able to provide assistance through AgrAbility.
Debbie Fredricks
Wednesday 1:45 - 2:45
QPR Training & Certification
Debbie began her Extension career in 1996 in the Food $ense Program, retiring in 2017. After training as a Suicide Prevention Educator with another organization she was excited to have the opportunity to join the WSU Farm Stress and AgrAbilty team. Helping people live better lives has been the focus of her career and she brings that passion to helping people in agriculture, forestry and fishing through the Farm Stress and AgrAbility program.
Alisen Anderson
Wednesday 10:45 - 11:45
Thursday Breakfast
'Diversity & Inclusion - The Future of Leadership"
Alisen and her husband Jared live on the family farm and ranch in Oklahoma. Additionally, Alisen teaches in the agriculture department at her alma mater Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College.
Alisen has served on her county Farm Bureau board of directors since 2016 is currently serving a two year terms on the AFBF YF&R Committee.
Max Mielke
Wednesday 1:45 - 2:45
AgVision: Young, Beginning or Small Producers
Max serves as a Relationship Manager for Northwest Farm Credit Services in central WA & has been with Farm Credit as an agricultural lender for over 5 years. He is an AgVision Specialist focusing on improving the lives of young, beginning, and small producers.Max obtained his BS in Agricultural Economics from WSU. Max is still actively involved in his 5th generation family wheat farm and beef cattle ranch in eastern, WA.
Zach Schafer
Wednesday 1:45 - 2:45
AgVision: Young, Beginning or Small Producers
Zach is a Relationship Manager and AgVision Specialist for Northwest Farm Credit Services in the Columbia Basin in Central WA. Zach has a BS in Political Economics from the University of WA and has spent his 20-year professional career in finance and business/Ag management. He grew up on his family’s dryland wheat farm in Grant County and has a strong passion for providing solutions for young, beginning,& small Ag producers.