Something remarkable occurred at Lake of the Ozarks December 9-10. It wasn’t a sale at the outlet mall, though I’m sure plenty of people did some Christmas shopping while they were in town. Rather, it was the 99th time farmers and ranchers gathered from across the state for the Missouri Farm Bureau Annual Meeting.

The event provides an opportunity for members to come together to discuss, and sometimes debate, issues ranging from agricultural regulations to water management. Speeches and contests are the backdrop for business sessions where members hash out the organization’s policy positions for the coming year.

It was ironic that this year’s session was conducted with 435 voting delegates — the same number of individuals elected to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. Like the House, Farm Bureau’s voting delegates represent an area — in this case a county. Unfortunately, the similarities end there. Farm Bureau’s voting delegates debate policy positions and then vote on each one. Unlike the U.S. Senate where 60 votes are now a necessity, a simple majority is needed for passage and each delegate has the ability to voice his or her opinion. In the end, voting delegates approve a comprehensive set of resolutions that provide the organization with a clear roadmap for the coming year.

As vice-president, I’m proud to chair the annual grassroots process that actually begins in June when a cross-section of Farm Bureau members hear from leaders of state and federal agencies about current issues of interest. Armed with this information, the State Resolutions Committee develops a questionnaire that is provided to our more than 117,000 members throughout the state. Responses are forwarded to county Farm Bureaus who develop proposed resolutions, which are subsequently discussed by the State Resolutions Committee and presented to voting delegates at the annual meeting.

This year’s delegates expressed concern with a new state law that repeals Missouri’s longstanding prohibition on foreign ownership of farmland, supported efforts to place on the 2014 ballot a one-cent sales tax earmarked for transportation with a 10-year sunset clause, renewed calls for Congressional approval of a farm bill and opposed efforts to make the state director of agriculture an elected position.

Next December, we’ll celebrate a century of coming together and developing policies aimed at strengthening our farms, our communities and our state. Over the past 99 years, much has been accomplished by working together and speaking with one voice.