The largest gaps were found in the political process theme area and the

 competencies included in this area should all be considered for a leadership-training

 program.

 This training should be provided to current and incoming county Farm Bureau

 board members. In addition to this training, Farm Bureau should provide county board

 members with a job description so they know exactly what being a county Farm Bureau

 board member entails. As one state official commented "the problem is that the

 organization never got around to doing a job description, what knowledge is needed to

 get the job (being an effective county board member) done."

 Another recommendation would be to provide county board members with a

 handbook that provides much of this knowledge, such as the history and organization of

 Farm Bureau on all levels, the policy development process, and the political structure at

 various levels (such as in Tallahassee, FL and Washington, D.C.)

 "The Florida Farm Bureau needs to recognize that agriculture is evolving into

 non-traditional types of farming in urbanizing counties and become more pro-active in

 supporting and including new forms of agriculture as they emerge." This was a comment

 provided by a county board member on their completed survey and one that needs to be

 supported at all levels of Farm Bureau from the county to the state organization.

 Agriculture is changing and Farm Bureau needs to bring individuals to the table that

 represent these non-traditional types of farming as they represent the future of agriculture

 and for Florida Farm Bureau to continue to play a role in Florida agriculture they need to

practice the progressiveness that it is encouraging in its members.