By Marlee Moore

Fox News correspondent Dana Perino talked elections, service, a love for America and her tenure as President George W. Bush’s White House press secretary at the Alabama Farmers Federation’s 95th annual meeting in Montgomery Dec. 5.

“What I learned about civility, I learned on the ranch,” said Perino, who was raised on a ranch in Wyoming. “One of the leadership qualities I learned from President Bush is forgiveness; that’s important to be a leader,” she added.

Perino’s address wrapped up a jam-packed conference including awards, education, elections and policymaking with over 1,200 Federation members.

During an earlier Ag Issues Briefing, international speaker and GMO (genetically modified organism) advocate Mark Lynas kicked off an educational campaign by the Federation to help farmers better explain modern agricultural practices — particularly the use of GMOs — to the general public.

The Alabama Wheat & Feed Grain Producers and Soybean Producers sponsored Lynas’ talk.

“You’ve got to get out there and tell the message,” said Lynas, a former anti-GMO activists. “You’ve got to be clear that sustainability is at the heart of what you’re doing.”

Opening day of the conference ended with a Christmas concert by country music star Sara Evans in the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre. Earlier that day, former Alabama Extension System Specialist Dennis Evans received the Service to Agriculture Award — the highest honor given by the state’s largest farm organization.