South Dakota Farmers & Ranchers will Serve as 2018 National Farmers Union Convention Delegates

Tammy Basel, Meade County was elected to serve as a delegate to the 2018 National Farmers Union Convention held in Kansas City, Missouri, March 4-6, 2018 during the 2017 S.D. Farmers Union State Convention.

‘I realize that policy is the most important thing Farmers Union can work on to make an impact.  In regards to what happens in our Congress and state levels of government, we would have no way to make an impact without a strong grassroots policy. I want to advocate for S.D. Farmers Union policy at the national level so we are able to continue making an impact.”

Bill Chase, Beadle County was elected to serve as a delegate to the 2018 National Farmers Union Convention held in Kansas City, Missouri, March 4-6, 2018 during the 2017 S.D. Farmers Union State Convention.

 “I understand the importance of resolutions and what they mean to our organization and its grassroots policy. I have been involved in a commodity organization where I gained experience working with resolutions at the state and national level. I would be interested to use my experience to represent Farmers Union at the 2018 National Convention.”

Lorrie Hanson, Marshall County was elected to serve as a delegate to the 2018 National Farmers Union Convention held in Kansas City, Missouri, March 4-6, 2018 during the 2017 S.D. Farmers Union State Convention.

 “I have been active in Farmers Union and working with youth. I understand how important it is to get younger people involved with grassroots policy. As older generations move on from the farming industry it is important to keep younger people active and representing Farmers Union.”

Jeff Kippley, Brown County was elected to serve as a delegate to the 2018 National Farmers Union Convention held in Kansas City, Missouri, March 4-6, 2018 during the  2017 S.D. Farmers Union State Convention.

 “Often times, you have lawmakers in higher up positions that don’t truly understand how their decision will impact people on the front lines of family farming and ranching. Having a grassroots policy lets us push for legislation from firsthand experience, reminding lawmakers to stay in touch with the reality of their policy.”

Becky Martinmaas, Faulk County was elected to serve as a delegate to the 2018 National Farmers Union Convention held in Kansas City, Missouri, March 4-6, 2018 during the 2017 S.D. Farmers Union State Convention.

 “I’m a strong believer that if you want to complain you need to be willing to do something if you want to see change. Sometimes it takes getting your feet wet and doing the job yourself to push for the best outcome. Survival of the family farming and ranching lifestyle is very important to me and if we don’t see policy changes soon young producers won’t be able to make it.”

Hank Wonnenberg, Gregory County was elected to serve as a delegate to the 2018 National Farmers Union Convention held in Kansas City, Missouri, March 4-6, 2018 during the 2017 S.D. Farmers Union State Convention.

 “I am very passionate about agriculture and with the new farm bill coming up, the more of a voice I can have to represent S.D. Farmers Union the better. Being vested in agriculture now only as a producer but also as an ag lending banker, I feel the effects of poor commodity prices and struggling rural economies first hand, so I want to do everything possible to help the people of South Dakota and rural America. The most effective way to let lawmakers know what is and isn’t working is grass roots policy. As a large group of farmers and ranchers, we have more strength to impact change.”