Union

1305 Plum Street • Lincoln, NE 68502

www.nebraskafarmersunion.org

Contact John Hansen Office: 402-476-8815,

Fax: 402-476-8859, Cell: 402-580-8815

john@nebraskafarmersunion.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 28, 2006 Lincoln, Nebraska

Nebraska Farmers Union To Hold 93^rd Annual Convention In

Grand Island December 8-9^th At Howard Johnson Riverside Inn

“Renewing Rural America With Farmer and Community Owned Renewable Energy” is the theme for the 93^rd annual state convention of the Nebraska Farmers Union (NEFU).

John Hansen, President of the Nebraska Farmers Union said the theme is particularly appropriate given the explosion of interest in renewable energy and the ongoing struggle to improve the economic well being of rural America. “The way to best maximize the long term economic benefits of new value added renewable energy opportunities is to focus state and national incentives on farmer and community ownership. When the profits from the value added processing stays in the rural community, it is used to finance additional economic opportunities and improve services. When earned incomes and quality of life services are enhanced in rural communities, we dramatically improve the likelihood that our kids will come back home to stay after college, which is just what we need to improve to renew rural Nebraska,” Hansen said

Friday morning, NEFU convention participants will hear from:

· Steve Sorum, NE Ethanol Board Ethanol Project Manager report on the dramatic increase in new ethanol plants under construction in Nebraska.

· Eric Brown, General Manager of the Nebraska Rural Radio Association will give an update on recent activities including the building of a new radio tower south of Lexington.

· Dale Enerson, the National Farmers Union Carbon Credit Program Director from Jamestown, North Dakota will explain the basics of how carbon sequestration works, how the sign up works, and the prospects for this new way for farmers and ranchers to be compensated from the marketplace for continuous no-till farming and planting new legumes and tame grasses.

Governor Dave Heineman will be the featured speaker at the Friday noon luncheon. The Governor will focus on the upcoming challenges and opportunities facing rural Nebraska.

Friday afternoon, NEFU convention participants will hear from:

· A panel that will discuss the status, challenges, and prospects for renewable energy composed of Dan McGuire, Executive Director of the American Corn Growers Foundation and “Wealth from the Wind” and NEFU District 5 Director, Robert Byrnes, President of the newly formed Nebraska Renewable Energy Association, Martin Kleinschmit, research associate for the Center for Rural Affairs, and Donn Teske, President of the Kansas Farmers Union.

· A panel entitled “Running for Public Office Is Not For Sissies” of first time candidates discussing their experience in running for office will include Steve Loschen, Lt. Governor candidate, Scott Kleeb, Congressional candidate, and Annette Dubas, legislative candidate.

· A “Legislative Preview for 2007 With New State Senators” will discuss issues facing them in their first legislative session. Panel members will include Senators Elect Annette Dubas, LD34, Russ Karpisek, LD32, Cap Dierks, LD40, and Danielle Nantkess, LD 46.

· NEFU delegates will elect Directors from Districts two, four, and six, as well as elect two delegates and two alternates from the membership to the 2007 National Farmers Union Convention in Orlando, Florida March 2-5^th.

The Friday evening banquet speaker will be Brooks Dailey, newly appointed National Farmers Union Membership Services Director and past President of the Montana Farmers Union who will speak on why “We Make A Difference”.

Saturday morning, NEFU convention participants will hear from:

· Brooks Dailey, NFU Membership Services Director on membership issues.

· Roy Stoltenberg, NEFU Vice President’s report.

· Vern Jantzen, NEFU Secretary’s report.

· John Hansen, NEFU President’s report.

· “2007 Farm Bill Preview” with National Farmers Union President, Tom Buis, John Dittrich, NEFU policy analyst, Tim Mc Coy, Nebraska Game & Parks, and Donn Teske, Kansas Farmers Union President.

Saturday noon luncheon speaker will be National Farmers Union President Tom Buis who will highlight 2006 accomplishments and 2007 opportunities.

Convention will conclude Saturday afternoon after the delegates complete the policy adoption process.

Nebraska Farmers Union is the state’s second largest and oldest general farm organization representing over 5,300 farm and ranch families and the rural communities they live in. The mission of Nebraska Farmers Union is to improve the economic well being and quality of life of family farmers and ranchers, and the rural communities they live in.

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