11/15/07 Governor's race in 08 seen as significant for Farm Bureau

Washington Ag November 15, 2007 No political race in the 2008 election, be it at the national or state level, is more important to the Washington State Farm Bureau than the race for Washington's governor. That's what Farm Bureau President Steve Appel told the organization's annual convention in Spokane this week during his President's report. The Farm Bureau's Political Action Committee hasn't made endorsements for 2008 yet but in 2004 it supported Dino Rossi for governor and the recently announced 2008 gubernatorial candidate spoke to a group of Farm Bureau members this week. Recalling the narrow loss Rossi suffered in 2004, President Appel told the convention; Appel" "We know that the farm vote is not what it once was many years ago because the number of farmers have dropped away. But understand ladies and gentlemen the farm vote in a close vote in this state can be the swing vote." As for the state Farm Bureau itself, Appel reported continued growth in membership with about one-thousand new members this past year. That represents a three percent growth rate. Appel said the state Farm Bureau grew by 223 percent over the past ten years. The Washington Farm Bureau concludes its 88th annual meeting today in Spokane. I'm Bob Hoff.