The Missouri Farm Bureau convention attracted some 1,500 delegates in their annual meeting held at Lake of the Ozarks. A series of contests were held at the convention on Sunday, with Brooke Novinger of Kirksville among the award winners, after winning the "talent contest".

The new Missouri Farm Bureau ambassadors are Haley Thompson of Livingston County and William Inglish of Moniteau County. Miss Thompson, who has been a member of the Chillicothe FFA, succeeds another Chillicothean, Aaron Kerr, as a statewide ambassador for the Farm Bureau. Miss Thompson was a previous state winner in a Farm Bureau public speaking contest and was a 2012 graduate of Southwest Livingston High School.

Kulani Lawler of Clinton has been named the 2012 Young Farmers and Ranchers discussion meet winner. Emily Brundick of the University of Missouri is the 2012 Collegiate Discussion meet winner.

The Monday morning session included the recognition of individuals who have spent their career supporting the state's agriculture industry. The "Outstanding Service to Agriculture" award recipients include State Representative and farmer Glen Klippenstein of Maysville, Daryl Oldvader of FCS Financial, Bill Jackson with Agri-Services of Brunswick, and Missouri Farm Bureau videographer Dan Reed.

Two issues of concern for the Farm Bureau include the Federal Farm Bill which expired at the end of September, and reform, or repeal, of the Estate Tax.