11/30/06 Appel re-elected Farm Bureau leader

Washington Ag November 30, 2006 Voting delegates at the Washington Farm Bureau annual meeting earlier this month elected Steve Appel, a wheat and barley grower from Whitman County, to lead them into 2007. Appel has served as WFB president since November 1994. A third-generation farmer, Appel also serves as vice president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. In a closely contested race, first time candidate Britt Dudek, a Board member representing Chelan/ Douglas County, was elected to serve as vice president for legislation. Delegates unanimously elected Dean Farrens of Walla Walla county to an eighth term as vice president for policy development. During his address to the convention President Appel talked about issues for the upcoming legislative session. Appel: "We will look to strengthen the Right to Farm legislation to protect any farming operation not just the few the neighbors like. If the Growth Management Act is going to require farmland to stay farmland then the Right to Farm law must be strengthened to protect farmers from nuisance suits. In a like manner, if the GMA is to require that farms are to remain farms then big government planners need to ensure that farms stay profitable." And Appel said the Farm Bureau will continue efforts to protect private property. I'm Bob Hoff.