National Farmers Union wrapped up the 121st Anniversary Convention in San Francisco. After three days of programming and policy debate, we’re ready to hit the ground running for the 2023 Farm Bill.
At the opening banquet, NFU President Rob Larew provided his State of the Farmers Union address and talked about the long history within the Farmers Union of the theme of being United and Strong. The theme of strength through unity dates back more than 100 years, and shines through in our historical common cause with unions and other organizations as well as during the farm crisis of the 1980s.
An additional highlight from the State of the Farmers Union was the growth we’ve seen in the last year – now surpassing 221,000 members across the country!
In his address to members and delegates, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack made a major announcement: going forward, only products grown and processed in the US will be able to be labeled “Product of USA.” For too long, family farmers and ranchers have been competing in a market where imported products were labeled as a product of the United States. This announcement will bring about Fairness for Farmers and let consumers know where their food is coming from.
Keynote speaker Dr. Glenda Humiston of UC Davis joined us on day-two of convention and also took time for a Q&A with attendees. Her commitment to agricultural and environmental policy led her from the Colorado cattle farm of her youth to appointments in the USDA during both the Clinton and Obama administrations. Now more than seven years into her tenure as vice president of the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Humiston will address the climate and market challenges farm families face today and our opportunities to build resilience for the future.
Between programming sessions, convention attendees had the opportunity to stop by our photo booth. For many, this was a great way to memorialize old and new friendships at convention. For some, it appears to have been a good place to grab a snack.
Before speaking to convention attendees and delegates, U.S. House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi took time to visit with NFU’s National Youth Advisory Council and hear about what they’re passionate about.
The deliberation of our grassroots policy is at the core of why we have our national convention. Delegates from all of our state divisions gather, discuss, and vote on proposed changes and additions to our policy book which sets the agenda for the advocacy NFU does.
During the policy process, delegates approved three special orders of business:
