Farmers Union Kicks Off 120th Anniversary Convention

National Farmers Union (NFU) convened its 120th Anniversary Convention Sunday in Denver, Colorado, to celebrate American farm families and to set the organization’s policy positions and priorities for the coming year. More than 450 Farmers Union members from across the country are expected to gather for the annual event, which runs through March 1.

“Our annual convention is an exciting opportunity for Farmers Union members to gather together, in person, to work towards our shared goal of economic prosperity and social justice. With all the challenges we face today, our grassroots organization is needed more than ever to confront these obstacles,” said NFU President Rob Larew.”

During the three-day event, family farmers and ranchers will hear from speakers on efforts to establish competitive markets in agriculture through the Fairness for Farmers campaign. There will also be a conversation with representatives from other essential workers’ organizations and institutions, and participants will consider what Farmers Union members and their communities can learn from the shared experience of the pandemic.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will virtually headline the general session on Tuesday. Senator Jon Tester of Montana will provide live remarks on Sunday evening, and Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Colorado Agricultural Commissioner Kate Greenberg will speak on Monday afternoon.

Outside of the general sessions, attendees will have the choice of several breakout sessions that include exploring NFU’s history of fighting for fair markets, engaging the next generation of agriculture leaders, addressing confusion on the carbon markets, and discussing the potential of biofuels.

These conversations will set the stage for the organization’s annual line-by-line policy review during the final day and a half of the convention.

“Farmers Union members will determine the direction of our organization and will emphasize issues that Congress and the administration ought to address in the year ahead,” Larew explained. “The policies we adopt this week will be influential in Washington, D.C., because lawmakers know that NFU’s policies are representative of the collective interests and concerns of America’s farm and ranch families.”

In addition to debating and voting on NFU’s policy book, delegates to the convention will elect the organization’s vice president. Two candidates – current NFU Vice President Patty Edelburg of Wisconsin and Jeff Kippley of South Dakota – have thrown their hats into the ring and will have an opportunity to present their platform. NFU President Rob Larew is running unopposed for re-election.

General session and panel discussions will be live streamed on NFU’s Facebook page at facebook.com/nationalfarmersunion. More information on convention programming can be found at nfu.org/convention. Follow along using the hashtag #NFU2022. Download the NFU Convention app here for more information.

Source: National Farmers Union