Members of North Carolina Farm Bureau (NCFB), the state’s largest general farm organization, are gathering to debate and discuss the future of farming and the state’s top industry — agriculture.

The organization’s 78th Annual Meeting is Sunday, Dec. 8 through Tuesday, Dec. 10 at the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center, Sheraton Greensboro Hotel at Four Seasons.

More than 1,000 volunteer leaders and voting delegates are expected to travel from each of North Carolina’s 100 counties to attend the convention.

“As agriculture prospers or suffers, so goes our state and nation,” said Larry Wooten, president of NCFB. “North Carolina Farm Bureau is the unified statewide voice of agriculture working through our grassroots organizations to enhance and strengthen the lives of rural North Carolinians and to build strong, prosperous agricultural communities.”

A tradition of each annual meeting is a program welcoming North Carolina’s Congressional Delegation members, General Assembly members, Council of State members and other officials and guests. Beginning at 9 a.m., Monday, Dec. 8, a series of guest speakers will address NCFB members about the important issues facing the agricultural industry in North Carolina. Among the guests scheduled to address NCFB members on issues of importance to rural citizens and the agricultural economy are U.S. Rep. Howard Coble, U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin, North Carolina. House Speaker Thom Tillis, North Carolina Sen. Brent Jackson and American Farm Bureau Executive Vice-President and Treasurer Julie Anna Potts.

Beginning at 9 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 9, scheduled to speak are North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, North Carolina Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Mark Martin and motivational speaker Brian Holman.

Additional speakers and events are scheduled throughout the three-day event.