2019 Farm Bureau FUSION Conference
 
Jim Morris
Opening General Session
Saturday, March 16, 2019

Jim Morris' Cinderella story is testimony to the power of dreams and their ability to inspire and transform human life. His story is the subject of the blockbuster film from Walt Disney, 'The Rookie,' starring Dennis Quaid which won the ESPY for Sports Film of the Year.

Originally a top prospect, Jim Morris's career in baseball was derailed by injuries and immaturity at the age of 24. He got married, raised a family and eventually became a high school physics teacher and baseball coach in southwest Texas. At the age of 35, Jim made a bet with his struggling high school baseball team: If they won the district championship, then he would go try out for a major league team. Miraculously, his team won the district championship and Jim went to a tryout, where he threw twelve consecutive pitches at 98 mph.

Three months later, Jim realized his long-lost dream of becoming a major league player when he struck out All Star Royce Clayton in his first major league appearance in front of family and friends back in Texas.

Jim Morris is a polished public speaker and uses his story in combination with the goals of his customer to inspire and motivate. Imagine having Tom Hanks over at your house for a cup of coffee. That's what it's like having Jim Morris speak with your group. Jim also has a great sense of humor that will make your group laugh and inspire them at the same time.

 
Redmond Ramos
General Session Speaker
Sunday, March 17, 2019

Redmond Ramos followed in his two brothers’ footsteps and enlisted in the military at 18 years old to become a Navy Corpsman (combat medic) with the Marines. He deployed to Afghanistan as a combat replacement for the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. While there he stepped on an improvised explosive device and lost his left leg. Redmond came home and refused to see his surroundings as a deterrent to succeed. He looked at his struggles as an opportunity to grow. Redmond competed in track and swimming internationally for Team USA Invictus Games, Endeavor Games and Warrior Games, as well as competing on The Amazing Race and Triumph Games.

 
President Zippy Duvall, American Farm Bureau Federation
Closing Session Speaker
Monday, March 18, 2019

President of the American Farm Bureau Federation since January 2016, Zippy Duvall is a third-generation farmer from Greene County, Georgia. In December 2017, Duvall was appointed to the White House Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations. He was also honored in 2017 as a founding luminary by the National 4-H Council.

Prior to being elected AFBF president, Duvall served for nine years as president of the Georgia Farm Bureau. Duvall’s long leadership history includes service on the Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmers Committee and Georgia Farm Bureau board of directors. He also served on the AFBF board of directors as chair of the national Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee in 1987.

Zippy and Bonnie have been married for more than 38 years and raised four children: Vince, Corrie, Zeb and Zellie. They now enjoy spending time with their five grandchildren. In addition to a 400-head beef cow herd for which he grows his own hay, Duvall and his wife, Bonnie, also grow more than 750,000 broilers per year. When he's not working for us in Washington, he loves to get back to the farm and get his boots dirty.