Posted: 01.11.2011

Usually when Wisconsin farmers travel to their national convention - they hope for a break from Mother Nature.  That's sure not the case for about 40 Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation members wrapping up national business in Atlanta today.

In an interview with Pam Jahnke, Paul Zimmerman - legislative affairs coordinator for WFBF and one of those trapped in Atlanta, said the delegation was laughing now.  Zimmerman said Sunday more then 4 inches of snow fell in the Atlanta metropolitan area - and that media outlets there stopped regular programming and went to wall-to-wall weather information.  "Basically downtown Atlanta is shut down.  Hotel staff slept at the hotel - they just cancelled shuttle service to the convention center - and there's more ice on the way,"  Zimmerman accounted.

Zimmerman said only one couple had actually driven to the AFBF convention - everyone else flew. "Our members started being notified by the airlines today already that their flights on Tuesday will definitely be delayed.  I'm not flying out until Wednesday so I'm hoping things will be better by then."

Aside from the weather - Troy Sellen of Oconto county missed out on the final four in the Discussion Meet competition.  Other Wisconsin representatives in competitive events did not succeed in cracking the top 10.

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