Nebraska Farmers Union

 

About Us

National Farmers Union was founded in 1902 in Point, Texas by Newt Gresham. Farmers Union grew out of the need for farmers to harness the power of organization to stand up against the monopolies that controlled the railroads, ag processing, ag supplies, and the grocers.  The above drawing depicts an early  cooperative depot near Point, the home of the first cooperatively owned cotton gin in Texas, organized by Farmers Union.

Organizing efforts began in 1911 with the formation of local cream and ag supply cooperatives.  Nebraska Farmers Union was first chartered into National Farmers Union on December 13, 1913.  Our mission:  "Nebraska Farmers Union is a general farm organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing the quality of life and economic well-being of family farmers and ranchers and their rural communities."

NEFU has dozens of active county and district organizations, and is very active in shaping farm and rural policy in both Lincoln and Washington DC. Governed by its members, NEFU's policy is approved each year by the elected delegates of our state convention, and all Farmers Union officers are chosen in open elections.

The current President of Nebraska Farmers Union is John K. Hansen. He was first elected President in 1989, and has been re-elected nine times since.  Hansen also serves as the Chairman of the Legislative Committee for National Farmers Union, and on the National Farmers Union Executive Committee.  Before moving to Lincoln to serve as President in 1990, he operated a diversified grain and livestock operation in Madison County, NE.. Hansen. He was first elected President in 1989, and has been re-elected nine times since.  Hansen also serves as the Chairman of the Legislative Committee for National Farmers Union, and on the National Farmers Union Executive Committee.  Before moving to Lincoln to serve as President in 1990, he operated a diversified grain and livestock operation in Madison County, NE.

The current State Vice-President of Nebraska Farmers Union is Roy Stoltenberg, a grain and livestock producer from Cairo, in Hall County.

Vern Jantzen, a grain and dairy producer from Plymouth, in Jefferson County, serves as State Secretary. Along with five other members, Jantzen and Stoltenberg also serve on the Board of Directors.

State Office Staff

 

State President: John Hansen

Lincoln, NE - 402-580-8815

johnhansen@nebraskafarmersunion.org

 

Public Affairs Director: Graham Christensen

Lincoln, NE - 402-217-5217

graham@nebraskafarmersunion.org

 

Office Manager: Terri Donahue

Lincoln, NE - 402-476-8815

terri@nebraskafarmersunion.org

 

 

NEFU Board of Directors

-

District 1 Director (West)    

OPEN

 

District 2 Director (North Central)

Roy Stoltenberg

Cairo, Nebraska - 308-381-0285

stolte@hamilton.net

 

District 3 Director (South Central)

Gale Lush

Wilcox, Nebraska - 308-478-5562

galelush@hotmail.com

 

District 4 Director (Southeast)

Vern Jantzen

Plymouth, Nebraska - 402-656-3382

janocows@inetnebr.com

 

District 5 Director (East Central) 

Dan McGuire

Lincoln, Nebraska - 402-489-1346

mcguireconsultng@aol.com

 

District 6 Director (Northeast) 

Dennis Buse

West Point, Nebraska - 402-372-2630

dennisbuse@hotmail.com

 

District 7 Director (Northeast) 

Judy Pulley

Tilden, Nebraska - 402-368-9326

pulley01@frontiernet.net

 

john

 NEFU District Presidents

 

District 1 - Steve Kloch

Alliance, NE   308-762-2517

kloch@telecomwest.net

 

District 2 - Mary Stoltenberg

Cairo, NE  308-381-0285

stolte@hamilton.net

 

District 3 - Ron Meyer

Superior, NE   402-879-5800

meyron@galaxycable.net

 

District 4 - Karen Sysel

Dorchester, NE   402-946-6561

syselfarms@alltel.net

 

District 5 - Sally Herrin

Lincoln, NE   402-328-0632

sjherrin@operamail.com

 

District 6 - Fred Christensen

Lyons, NE   402-685-6269

fc75134@hotmail.com

 

District 7 - Todd Stewart

Meadow Grove, NE   402-634-2464

jetstewart@huntel.net

jetstewart@huntel.net

 

 

Have Questions??

Please contact our board, officers, and staff.

 


Farmers Union--100 Years of History

NEFU President John K. Hansen, NEFU District 3 Director Gale Lush, and District 5 Director Dan McGuire sign the Power Purchase Agreement for the Crofton Hills C-BED Wind Project on April 22, 2008. 

Nebraska Farmers Union President John K Hansen (far right) receives applause for his remarks at a press conference during the 2002 Farm Aid Concert near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pictured to his left are John Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers of America; Carolyn Mugar, Executive Director of Farm Aid; and Farm Aid founders Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, and Neil Young. 

For decades, Farmers Union has been coordinating national Fly-Ins to Washington D.C. This photo was taken during the September, 2007 Fall Fly-In. From left to right, NEFU State Secretary Vern Jantzen , Pam Caba, NEFU President John K. Hansen, U.S. Senator Ben Nelson, NEFU District 3 Vice President Steve Loschen, Stan Brown, and NEFU Public Affairs Director Graham Christensen.

Former Nebraska Farmers Union President Neil Oxton (right) is pictured with former NE governor Charles Thone (seated) and former Secretary of State Alan Beerman at the official signing ceremony of Initiative 300 in 1982. I-300, the strongest state ban on corporate farming in the nation, was proposed and spearheaded by Nebraska Farmers Union.  

The above photo was taken at the 1941 Nebraska Farmers Union Convention at the Hotel Rome in Omaha. Nebraska Farmers Union has held an annual convention every year since its founding in 1913. Today, State Convention is usually held in Grand Island in early December.

National Farmers Union President Tom Buis, center, is surrounded by Senators Tester (MT), Salazar (CO), Conrad ( ND), Thune (SD), Hatch (UT), and Dorgan (ND) at a press conference supporting the efforts of Sen. Baucus (MT), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee to fund permanent emergency disaster assistance for farmers and ranchers.  The press conference was held during the annual National Farmers Union Fly-In, September 2007. 

This photo was snapped on Christmas Day, 1927, and shows a brand new office and weigh-scales of the Farmers Union Co-op Association of Fairfield, NE. Since its founding in 1913, Nebraska Farmers Union has founded more than 436 cooperatives in Nebraska.