ST. PAUL –Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) members adopted special orders, re-elected state leaders and elected delegates to the National Farmers Union Convention at their 84th annual state convention, held Nov. 21-23 in Minneapolis.

The main purpose of the convention is to debate and pass the organization’s policy platform, which is developed by members submitting resolutions at the grassroots level and then debated when delegates convene at the annual state convention.

Delegates passed five special orders of business:

• Encouraging elected officials to take swift, meaningful action to address the crisis in farm country and make long-term, systemic reforms that ensure a farm economy that is stable, resilient, distributed and fair.
• Calling for an end to the trade war and a return to stable trading relationships that benefit family farmers and rural communities.
• Calling on lawmakers to reverse damaging healthcare cuts and renew work to lower costs, improve access, and ensure that everyone can get the care they need.
• Supporting the next generation of farmers with investments in diverse, distributed market opportunities, public research, supply chain development and technical assistance to help them build diverse, resilient and profitable farm businesses.
• Supporting the restoration of funding to programs that fight hunger, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program and USAID.

The special orders of business are the organization’s main legislative priorities for the upcoming year. They are a timely message to policymakers about what Farmers Union members want them to act on in the near term.

Ten members were elected to represent the Minnesota Farmers Union as delegates at the National Farmers Union (NFU) Convention, March 7-9 in New Orleans, La. The Minnesota delegates will join delegates from other state Farmers Union organizations to set national policy during the convention.

Delegates who will represent Minnesota at the NFU Convention:

• Larry Jacobson, Clay County
• Steve Sparby, Marshall County
• Jim VanDerPol, Chippewa County
• Harmon Wilts, Swift County
• Ken Griebel, Brown County
• Russ Derickson, Cottonwood County
• Sam Birkholz, Chisago County
• Hannah Bernhardt, Pine County
• Todd Leiding, Fillmore County
• Dana Seifert, Scott County

Delegates also re-elected Gary Wertish of Renville County as president and Anne Schwagerl of Big Stone County as vice president.

The state convention was held at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Minneapolis Northeast, Nov. 21-23.

About Minnesota Farmers Union

Minnesota Farmers Union works to protect and enhance the economic interests and quality of life of family farmers and ranchers and rural communities. MFU is a nonprofit membership-based organization. Membership is open to everyone. Learn more and join at www.mfu.org and follow MFU on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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Minnesota Farmers Union—Standing for Agriculture, Working for Farmers (www.mfu.org).