More than 1,000 Farm Bureau members from all 47 county chapters gathered at Myrtle Beach in December for the 67th annual meeting of the SCFB Federation.



The convention began with the 10th annual South Carolina Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom Golf Benefit at the Arcadian Shores Golf Club. This year’s tournament, sponsored by the Young Farmer and Rancher Committee, raised over $15,000. 



One of the most popular attractions was the Country Store, operated by the SCFB Women’s Committee, which sold more than $5,700 in arts and crafts. Proceeds go to the SCFB Ag in the Classroom Fund, the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, and Education in AG-tion programs.



The South Carolina Farm Bureau Women's Committee and the SCFB Young Farmer Committee also co-sponsored a Silent Auction to raise funds for Education in AG-tion programs. Proceeds from this event contributed another $4,500.



Other highlights of the annual meeting included:

• The voting delegates re-elected two members of the SCFB Executive Committee. Allen Beer of Chester County was re-elected to another four-year term as vice-president of the Central District, and Doug Stewart of Laurens County was re-elected to another four-year term as director-at-large of the Piedmont District. 

• Walter Dantzler of Orangeburg County received SCFB’s highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, as the highlight of the Awards and Recognition Program. 

• Les and Kelly Galloway of Darlington County were named winners of the SCFB Young Farmer and Rancher Achievement Award Contest. Their grand prize was a Dodge Ram truck, compliments of the Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company. The couple also received a total of $1,000 in cash from the Dodge Division of Chrysler Motors and the Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company, as well as an expense paid trip to Atlanta, Ga, to compete in the American Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher Achievement Award.

• Loni Rikard of Lexington County was the winner of the SCFB Young Farmer and Rancher Discussion Meet Contest. As a grand prize, Loni received an E-Z-GO utility terrain vehicle compliments of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company. Loni also received $500 in cash compliments of the Dodge Division of Chrysler Motors and an expense paid trip to Atlanta, Ga, in January 2011 to compete in the American Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher Discussion Meet.

Excellence in Agriculture Award

• Jim and Nancy Ollis of Laurens County were named the winners of the SCFB Young Farmer and Rancher Excellence in Agriculture Award. As a special grand prize, they received an E-Z-GO utility terrain vehicle, compliments of E-Z-GO, as well as a check for $500 compliments of the Dodge Division of Chrysler Motors. They will also receive an expense paid trip to Atlanta, to compete in the American Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher Excellence in Agriculture Contest.

• Talent Contest winners included Katie Connelley of Orangeburg County (Junior 1); Anna-Banks Turberville of Calhoun County (Junior 2); Ellie Muckinfuss of Beaufort County (Senior I); and Jessica Edwards of Bamberg County (Senior 2).

• Georgetown, Marlboro, Williamsburg, Anderson, Greenville, Newberry, Beaufort, Berkeley, Calhoun, Orangeburg, Fairfield, Laurens, Barnwell, and Kershaw County Farm Bureaus received County Performance Awards for their outstanding service-to-member programs. 

• Seventeen County Farm Bureaus received special achievement awards for having the top Farm Bureau women's programs in the state during 2010. They included Anderson, Beaufort, Calhoun, Darlington, Dorchester, Edgefield, Florence, Georgetown, Greenville, Hampton, Laurens, Lexington, Oconee, Orangeburg, Saluda, Sumter, and York. 

• Dohonia Galloway of Darlington County received the 2010 Betty J. DeWitt Outstanding Educator Award. Galloway, a first grade teacher at Saint Johns Elementary in Darlington, received a $500 cash award compliments of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company in recognition of her efforts.

• The SCFB Women’s Leadership Committee raised $1,000 in contributions towards the Betty J. DeWitt college scholarship fund.