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Wisconsin Farmers Union sets policy priorities

Wisconsin Farmers Union President Darin Von Ruden tells Brownfield state officials will be focusing on four key policy initiatives. “Concentration in the agricultural industry, preserving small and mid-sized farms, family farms shaping climate change policy, and family farmers shaping water quality policy.”

Von Ruden says delegates used a ranked-choice voting system to prioritize four of six possible policy areas, but that doesn’t mean the organization is not seeking positive changes in the meat and dairy sectors. “We’re going to continue to work on that too, but we’ve got to have our staff at this point, be addressing the four special orders of business, and they’ll be our main priorities over the next year.”

Above: The 2022 Wisconsin Farmers Union Board of Directors includes,from left, (front row) Secretary Linda Ceylor, Catawba; Sarah Lloyd, Wisconsin Dells; President Darin Von Ruden, Westby; Rachel Bouressa, New London; (back row) Michael Slattery, Maribel; Vice President Tina Hinchley, Cambridge; Dave Rosen, Glenwood City; Jen Schmitz, Cashton; and Treasurer Ed Gorell, Eleva.

Von Ruden says one of the few areas that generated debate Sunday centered on a specific problem with education funding. “Ways to get some more dollars into the school systems for our special needs kids.”

After the delegate session, the board of directors re-elected Von Ruden as President, and Tina Hinchley was elected State Vice President. 

Paul Adams of Eleva and Dylan Bruce of Ferryville were elected to serve as delegates to the National Farmers Union Convention March 5-7, 2023, in San Francisco.

Four district director seats were up for election this year, with all four incumbents returning to the board.

12-11-22 Wisconsin Farmers Union President Darin Von Ruden discusses the group’s policy priorities with Brownfield’s Larry Lee.

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