11/21/07 Appel re-elected to lead Farm Bureau

Washington Ag November 21, 2007 Voting delegates at the Washington Farm Bureau annual meeting last week elected Steve Appel, a wheat and barley grower from Whitman County, to lead them into 2008. 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, the nation's largest general farm organization. During an interview before his re-election, Appel talked about leading an organization and its members during a time of good commodity prices. Appel: "If they aren't struggling for their economic life day to day, then they can start looking a little longer range and look at some of the regulatory issues whether it be land use or water quality or that type of thing, and start feeling like they have a little more time and ability to fight those issues. So, actually it is a great time as far as being a leader of a state farm organization because you have perhaps even more willingness out of your membership to step up to the plate and lend a hand." Britt Dudek, a fruit grower from Wenatchee, was elected to serve a second term as first vice president of the Farm Bureau. Dean Farrens of Walla Walla County was elected to a 9th term as second vice president. I'm Bob Hoff.