News

Johnson to step down as National Farmers Union President, VP Edelburg not running

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson will not seek re-election at the end of his term in February.  Johnson says he plans to spend more time with his wife and grandkids and is preparing for the transition. “My top priority as President and now during this transition process is to protect the future of family farmers in rural communities, and I’m confident that National Farmers Union is well-positioned to keep doing just that.”

National Vice President Patty Edelburg tells Brownfield she did look at possibly seeking the Presidency. “I have. I’ve considered it long and hard. I’ve had a lot of conversations with my husband and family, and I just decided right now is not the time.”

Edelburg has two children in college, and along with her husband, they are still milking cows near Amherst, Wisconsin, but she’s confident for the organization’s future. “There’s a lot of things that I can still do as the Vice President. I think there’s some great individual that will step up and seek the office, but I think there’s a lot of things I can still do with some of the smaller states and some of the larger states and do them from here in Wisconsin rather than moving out to Washington, D.C.”

Edelburg won’t rule out seeking the office in the future. “It comes up every two years. If it’s something I want to do in two years, and it’s not working for the new person, then maybe I will.”

Roger Johnson’s successor will be selected at their national convention at the end of February in Savanah, Georgia.