Honoring the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation on its 100th anniversary.

Whereas July 30, 2021, marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, the Voice of Tennessee Agriculture; Whereas, from its humble origins in the basement of the Maury County courthouse under the leadership of its first president, Joe Frank Porter, the Tennessee Farm Bureau now serves more than 680,000 members, making it the largest State Farm Bureau Federation in the United States; Whereas each and every day the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation advances its mission: to develop, foster, promote and protect programs for the general welfare, including economic, social, educational and political well-being of farm people of the great State of Tennessee Whereas the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation supports the $81 billion dollar industry that is Tennessee agriculture, driving significant economic development and advancing the quality of life for rural Tennesseans; Whereas the grassroots efforts of the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation advocating on behalf of Tennessee’s farmers and agricultural communities at the State and Federal levels have resulted in better legislation that has supported its membership; Whereas the Tennessee Farm Bureau established the Tennessee Farmers Cooperative, which is recognized today as one of the strongest federated farm supply cooperative systems in the Nation with 52 member Co-ops, each serving as a cornerstone in the communities they serve; Whereas the Tennessee Farm Bureau increased availability of rural health coverage by founding the Tennessee Rural Health Improvement Association to promote health and safety awareness and to make health coverage available to its members and now Farm Bureau Health Plans is the largest provider of private health coverage in Tennessee, offering affordable, quality health care coverage to rural residents through a wide range of health care plans; Whereas Mr. Clyde M. York, the eventual third president of the Tennessee Farm Bureau, established the Tennessee Farmers Mutual Insurance Company to give rural Tennesseans access to affordable insurance and now the Tennessee Farmers Mutual Insurance Company has more offices in more communities than any other insurer in the State, operates 16 regional claims centers throughout Tennessee, and was recognized in 2021 as Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Auto Insurers in the Southeast Region Whereas the Tennessee Farm Bureau and its service companies have flourished to employ more than 1,300 public servants, including more than 500 full-time insurance agents and 84 income tax practitioners who work in almost 200 offices across the State; Whereas the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation has established unmatched programs to teach agriculture to children and young adults, such as Young Farmers and Ranchers and Agriculture in the Classroom, so that the next generation will be even better equipped than the last to carry on the tradition of Tennessee agriculture; Whereas in 2021 the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation Expo Center has become the home of the Tennessee State Fair, which acts to promote the education of agriculture, horticulture, the creative arts, performing arts, industry, commerce, recreation, and economic development to the public; and Whereas the positive impact on rural and agricultural life made possible by the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation is beyond measure: Now, therefore, be it That the House of Representatives honors and congratulates the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation on its 100th anniversary and commemorates the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation for its service to the farmers and rural communities in the Volunteer State of Tennessee.

Summary: This resolution honors and congratulates the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation on its 100th anniversary and commemorates the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation for its service to the farmers and rural communities in the state of Tennessee.