Nebraska Farmers Union 111th Annual State Convention Agenda Announced

Lincoln, NE. "Value Added Agriculture: Helping Ourselves to a Better Future” is the theme for the 111th annual Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) state convention.  NeFU President John Hansen said, “Our convention program will focus on taking advantage of value-added opportunities to bring new tax base, tax revenues, good paying jobs, economic opportunities, and farm income to rural Nebraska. For 111 years, our organization has used its “can do” attitude and worked together to help ourselves. NeFU has helped organize 445 rural cooperatives, supported the creation of our state’s unique public power system, built our modern biofuels industry, and pioneer the harvesting of our valuable wind and solar resources.  Those efforts have brought many billions of dollars of annual value that serves family farm agriculture and rural Nebraska year after year. We build today for a better tomorrow.”

This year’s convention brings 15 state and national speakers and leaders that will discuss the status of public power, biofuels opportunities, water quality, renewable energy development, state legislative issues, national farm and rural issues, soil health, conservation cost share programs, farm and disaster programs, celebrate Nebraska Rural Response Hotline’s 40 years of life changing service to rural families, and Farmers Union’s history of harnessing the power of organization to build a better future.

NeFU will also elect three NeFU Board of Directors to 3-year terms, select two members from the membership to the NeFU Foundation Board, and elect 3 delegates and 3 alternates to the NFU Convention next March in Oklahoma City, set NeFU policy for the next year, and present the President’s Award for outstanding service to family farm agriculture to NeFU member Janece Mollhoff who is retiring from the OPPD Board of Directors.

Friday Morning, December 6, 2024
8:00     Registration Begins and Exhibits Open
9:00     Call to order:  Convention Convenes, Welcome, Pledge, Prayer, Past Convention Minutes
9:10     NeFU Foundation Report & Elections-- John Hansen, NeFU Foundation Secretary
             Elect At-Large Member to NeFU Foundation, 1 year term-currently Gayland Regier
9:20      NeFU Education Report—John Hansen
9:30     Nebraska Rural Radio Association Report
·         Tim Marshall, NRRA Chief Operating Officer
·         Ben Steffen, NRRA President
9:45   Refreshment Break Sponsored by:  Nebraska Rural Radio Association
10:15   “How Can USDA Rural Development Help Your Rural Community?”
·         Joan Scheel, Acting Director, USDA Farm Service Administration
10:45   “USDA FSA Programs, Challenges, and Opportunities”
·         Tim Divis, Acting Executive Director, USDA Farm Service Administration
·         Roy Stoltenberg, Chair, NE FSA State Committee                                                                          11:15    NeFU Elections:  Report by Elections Chair, Art Tanderup
·         Introduce candidates to serve as delegates to NFU Convention
·         Districts 2, 4, & 6 caucus for additional NeFU District Director Nominations (2025-2026)
·         District Presidents caucus to select representative to NeFU Foundation Board-Keith Dittrich
12:00    Noon Luncheon
12:20   A Look at Nebraska’s Growing Energy Needs
·         Tom Kent, President & CEO, Nebraska Public Power District
12:50   Farmers Union Midwest Agency, LLP report, introduction of agents
·         Jeff Downing, Farmers Union Midwest Agency
Friday Afternoon, December 6, 2024
1:20      First Round Elections
1:30      Door Prize Drawings              
1:35     “State & National Experts Ponder Renewable Fuels Opportunities & Challenges”
·         Anne Steckel, NFU Biofuels Advisor
·         Dawn Caldwell, Executive Director, Renewable Fuels Nebraska
2:15     “Here’s the Dirt on Soil Health” with Nathan Mueller, State Soil Health Specialist, NRCS
2:45     “81 MW Platteview Solar Project Shows Commercial Solar’s Time has Arrived”
·         Dustin Marvel, OPPD Government & Community Relations Strategist
3:15     Nebraska Farmers Union PAC report—Vern Jantzen
3:30      Refreshment Break
3:30     Second Round of Elections if needed for NFU Convention Delegates
4:00     Consideration of NeFU Policy—Vern Jantzen, NeFU Vice President
5:00     Recess
5:15     NEBFARMPAC Wine & Cheese Social
6:15     Friday Evening Banquet & Celebration
·         President’s Award Presentation: Janece Mollhoff, Retiring OPPD Board Member
NFU Government Relations Report
·         Jeff Kippley, Vice President, National Farmers Union
·         Anne Steckel, NFU Government Relations Director
Saturday Morning, December 7, 2024
7:00     Builders Club Breakfast
7:00     Complimentary Breakfast—Hotel Lobby
8:30     Convention Reconvenes
8:30     NeFU Vice President’s Report—Vern Jantzen
8:45     “Nebraska Nitrate In Drinking Water Study Update”—Bridger Corkill, NDEE
9:15     Unscrambling the Farm Bill/Extension—Jeff Kippley, Anne Steckel, John Hansen
9:45     Refreshment Break
10:15    “Harnessing the Power of Organization”—Tom Giessel, NFU Voluntary Historian
10:45   “Celebrating 40 Years of Nebraska Rural Response Hotline”
NE Rural Response Council President Vern Jantzen & Secretary John Hansen
11:00   Value Added Agriculture: Helping Ourselves to a Better Future
            NeFU Members Discuss Renewable Energy and issues on their mind with NeFU Leaders
11:30   Adjourn and Hotel Checkout
12:00   Noon Luncheon
John Berge, Acting USDA Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs
Jeff Kippley, Vice President, National Farmers Union
John Hansen, NeFU President’s Report to Membership
1:30     Policy Consideration & Adoption Until Completed
3:00     Convention Wrap Up—John Hansen