Kansas Farmers Union's (KFU) six voting delegates were among 500 Farmers Union members from across the country who gathered in Omaha, Nebraska for the National Farmers Union annual convention. 

 

KFU's five delegates were President Donn Teske of Wheaton, Nick Levendofsky of Republic, David Heiens of Abilene, Gerard Steinlage of Corning, Herb Bartel of Hillsboro and Jerry Karr of Emporia. Levendofsky served on the Rules and Credentials Committee. 

 

Some of the KFU members who attended the conference included Vice President Lavern Potuzak of Agenda, Communications Specialist Lauren Clary of Windom, Membership Specialist Mary Howell of Frankfort, Tom Giessel of Larned, Sharon Karr of Emporia, Pat Bartel of Hillsboro, Kathy Teske of Wheaton and Lisa and Brandon Spevacek of Harper, Greg Stephens of Salina and Gary Swartzendruber of Salina.

 

Farmers Union is a grassroots organization, which means the policy lobbied for in Washington DC is directly determined by the members. KFU's five delegates were elected by the membership at the KFU convention in December, along with KFU policy.

 

Farmers Union delegates passed special orders of business relating to investment priorities in the 2012 Farm Bill, the Market-Driven Inventory System, Country-of-Origin Labeling, dairy, beginning farmer programs, the beef checkoff, cuts to rural U.S. Postal Service offices and continued support for the Affordable Care Act.

 

"All policy is important, it's our instructions from members across the nation," KFU President Donn Teske said. "But I especially liked the special order of business challenging the actions of the Cattleman's Beef Board and also their attempt to double the mandatory checkoff."

 

For more information about the National Farmers Union Convention and Kansas Farmers Union visit kansasfarmersunion.org.