The leader of the nation’s largest farm organization will meet with local farmers as part of a whirlwind tour across the state to rally awareness of key agricultural issues and interest in recruiting members. American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman, a Texas rice farmer and cattleman, will meet with Berrien County farmers at 7 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2 at Berrien County Youth Fairgrounds, 9122 US-31, Berrien Springs.

In addition to drumming up interest in growing Farm Bureau’s grass-roots membership ranks, Stallman is expected to address a range of national and international-level topics impacting Michigan’s second-largest industry. Foremost among the national-level organization’s current priorities are climate change and energy policy, estate and capital-gains taxes, the clean air and water acts, agricultural disaster assistance, free trade, food safety and labeling and immigration reform.

Berrien County Farm Bureau is a non-profit organization representing the interests of its farmer members. For more information about Farm Bureau membership, call local membership chair Paula Wedde at (269) 876-0758, or the Berrien County Farm Bureau office at (269) 473-4791.