NDFU brings producers to capitol

BY CHRIS AARHUS, NDFU

Utilizing both North Dakota Farmers Union buses, nearly 100 farmers and ranchers descended on Bismarck for the Legislative Drive-in on Feb. 8-9.

As the newly elected president of LaMoure County Farmers Union, Mike Schlosser of Edgeley said he wanted to get up to speed on the latest happenings that affect agriculture.

“A chance to come together to find out what we need to know in our county,” he said. “We got to visit with some legislators and sit in on a session, so that’s always important. Just good to put our presence out there. It’s kind of instrumental in being a Farmers Union member.”

The two-day session started with a meeting of NDFU’s Board of Governors, which is made up of county presidents and is the governing body for the organization. Members later received training on how to talk with legislators about issues that affect them. A social was held at the Radisson that evening with numerous legislators showing up to visit with NDFU members.

Dalton Wiest, a 22-year-old NDFU member, farms near Wyndmere. As a young farmer, he was happy to make connections and lend his voice to a bigger effort to improve the life of producers in North Dakota.

“As a farmer, we don’t have much we can do by ourselves,” he said. “When we band together like this, you can change policy and do a lot for your county and your state.”

On Day 2, NDFU members took in hearings before watching sessions in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.