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

john@nebraskafarmersunion.org

Nebraska Farmers Union Sends 23 Members to National Convention

For Immediate Release March 18, 2010

Lincoln, NE. Nebraska Farmers Union was well represented with 23 of the 575 members and delegates who attended the 2010 National Farmers Union (NFU) Convention in Rapid City, S.D., March 14-16, 2010 coming from Nebraska. Many attendees traveled to Rapid City on the Kansas and Nebraska Farmers Union sponsored bus as it made its way through Kansas and Nebraska.

The Nebraska highlights included:

Nathan Deke of DeWitt received was the lone recipient of NFU’s top membership award, the Silver Star Award. It was Nathan’s third Silver Star award earned.
Ben Gotschall of Lincoln was one of six members to receive regular NFU Membership Awards.
Ben Gotschall of Lincoln served on the Rules, Credentials and Elections Committee.
Gwen Grabouski of Beatrice, Ben Gotschall of Lincoln, Judy Pulley of Tilden, and NEFU President John Hansen represented Nebraska Farmers Union as Delegates.
John Hansen, NEFU President served of the Bylaws Committee.
John Hansen, NEFU President was re-elected the Chair of the National Farmers Union Legislative Committee and member of the Executive Committee.
Nebraska Farmers Union was a National Farmers Union Convention sponsor.

The National Farmers Union Convention theme was “Looking to our Roots, Growing Tomorrow’s Solutions”. Attendees heard from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack and Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse.

“We are an organization that represents all family farmers and ranchers across this country,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “I believe the answers to the challenges facing our country today lie with those who live, work and raise their families in rural America and our convention gives members the opportunity to express what is working and what is not.”

The annual convention serves as the cornerstone event in deciding NFU’s policy positions. Policy discussions are aimed to help shape the organization’s structure and direction and covered the issue areas of renewable fuels, dairy farm policy, carbon sequestration, fair trade, market oversight, nutrition and health care. Members were also given the opportunity to participate in breakout sessions to educate and gather insight on a wide array of topics.

“The foundation of the Farmers Union, a triangle focused on education, legislation and cooperation, serves as the basis of the organization’s work,” said Johnson. “It is important to NFU to be sure all members receive balanced information regarding those three main focuses to continue representing rural American’s the same way we have been for over 100 years.”

National Farmers Union has been working since 1902 to protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities through advocating grassroots-driven policy positions adopted by its membership.

-30-