2014 AFBF Convention heads to San Antonio

The 2014 AFBF Annual Convention will return to San Antonio, Texas January 11 ““ 16, 2014. Tennessee Farm Bureau leaders will have the choice to fly from Knoxville, Nashville or Memphis to San Antonio on Saturday, January 11 returning to Tennessee on Thursday, January 16. The Tennessee delegation will be housed in the Hyatt Regency on the famous San Antonio Riverwalk. Located two blocks from the San Antonio Convention Center, the Hyatt Regency is a short walk or shuttle bus ride to all convention activities.  

Three general sessions with high profile speakers will be mixed with workshops on current issues, leadership, business, production and profitability. The showcase tradeshow will offer a change of pace where convention goers can visit with each other and agricultural vendors as well as share ideas at the county Farm Bureau Idea Exchange.  

Young Farmers and Ranchers from across the country will compete for the pickup trucks, tractors and chainsaws, as well as vouchers and cash prizes. Farm Bureau Women’s committee members will meet to discuss their agenda for the year. Both groups will elect their leaders for 2014.  

Optional activities include the AFBF Foundation sponsored golf tournament and sport clay shooting contest on Saturday, flapjack breakfast on Sunday morning and a rodeo on Monday evening. The Foundation will also host its silent auction featuring items from every state during the tradeshow.

The business session will be on Tuesday, January 14 where delegates from all 50 states and Puerto Rico will consider and vote on Farm Bureau’s public policy for 2014.  

If you’re not participating in the business session, you will have your pick of tours provided by the Texas Farm Bureau, bus tour to the LBJ Ranch & Visitor Center and historic Fredericksburg, Hop-on-Hop-off Tour of San Antonio highlights or take walking tours of the Alamo, Tower of Americas, Institute of Texas Cultures or shop in LaVillita or Market Square all in nearby proximity of the Hyatt Regency.  

Two group dinners have been planned with unique venues and tours. On our first night in San Antonio, the group will take a short one block walk down Crocket Street to the County Line Barbeque for a Texas barbeque dinner overlooking the Riverwalk. After dinner, we will board river boats for a narrated tour of downtown San Antonio and the Riverwalk before arriving back at the Hyatt Regency hotel. At the conclusion of the convention on Tuesday evening, the group will walk across the street to the famous Buckhorn Saloon and Texas Ranger Museum for an evening tour and Tex-Mex dinner. On Wednesday, a group tour and lunch hosted by the Texas Farm Bureau will also be provided as part of the group package price. We will visit a peanut processing plant, see cactus ropes made, tour the famous Alamo Hat Company, as well as visit an exotic wildlife ranch. View TN Farm Bureau San Antonio brochure.

Ride “The City of New Orleans”

A pre-convention trip limited to 50 people will travel to New Orleans via Memphis by bus and train. Departing Nashville by bus on Wednesday afternoon, January 8, this group will spend the first night at the Memphis Sheraton located adjacent to the Memphis Pyramid, the home of the Memphis Grizzlies. Catch the Memphis Trolley for a short ride to famous Beale Street or for barbeque ribs at Rendezvous.  

On Thursday morning we will bus to the Memphis Amtrak Station to board the “City of New Orleans” for a leisurely day trip to the Big Easy. This scenic trip will wind through several rural Mississippi and Louisiana towns before arriving mid afternoon in New Orleans. You will be able to take advantage of the viewing car for panoramic views. While in New Orleans the group will be housed in the Marriott Courtyard on Iberville, in the heart of the French Quarter. Several world class restaurants, Jackson Square, museums, walking history tours, as well as Bourbon Street are located in easy walking distance from our hotel.  

The group will take a city bus tour on Friday morning experiencing the history and culture of New Orleans before an afternoon and evening to tour on your own. The group will fly on to San Antonio on Saturday, January 11 to meet up with the rest of the Tennessee delegation in time for the AFBF Convention.  

What Does This Cost?

Cost for the package trip in San Antonio including five nights hotel, two dinners and evening tours, one day bus tour with lunch, AFBF Convention registration and transfers is $899 per person with double accommodations.

The cost of the optional pre-convention tour which includes three nights hotel, bus, train, New Orleans city tour and transfers is $499 per person with double accommodations.

Airline costs are separate and will be posted on the county Farm Bureau Intranet as soon as they are available. Tickets will cost approximately $375 – $475 per person.  

All registration will go through your county Farm Bureau office.