December President’s Podium: A Look at 2026

December is here! I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving, full of family and friends and recounting the good of this past year. There has been plenty of upheaval and uncertainty in the agricultural world this year, but as Will Rogers said, “the farmer has to be an optimist, or he wouldn’t still be a farmer.” So, let’s look back at some of the good from the past year.

We just concluded our annual convention where we got to come together and see old friends and make new ones. We heard some great speakers about local foods in Wyoming, cooperative development, and positive things happening in farming and ranching. We adopted our new policy, and a Special Order of Business with some big ideas and paths to improve the ag economy which we will begin advocating for on your behalf.

We celebrated the impact that our retiring CEO Ben Rainbolt has had on agriculture and education, and are welcoming our incoming CEO Tyler Garrett. RMFU remains very strong financially and in our standing in the agricultural and legislative communities. FUSA and our agents across three states continue to grow and provide insurance and services for our members and our communities. We continue to be in the conversations in Sante Fe, Denver, Cheyenne, and Washington, D.C., providing input into legislation and rules that affect all of us and our communities.

Our Foundation remains strong. Despite worries early in the year that funding would be cut and replacement funds difficult to find, 2026 looks to be a year where we provide more services than ever to our members and communities, with record grants and donations leading to increased funding in education programs, AgWell, and the Co-op Development Center.

The uncertainty and chaos in the ag economy has brought awareness to the general public about the issues we have been working on for decades. With this awareness, we have real hope that RMFU priorities such as mandatory country of origin labeling and concentration in the meat packing and supply industries will finally be addressed.

Although the Food and Farm Bill is once again an extension without major updates that are needed, at least we don’t face a fight to even get the extension like we did last December.

I look back at the year, and I remember the down sides, the issues that kept me up at night, the hard conversations, and the turmoil that was 2025, but I also see the relationships and reputation of RMFU and recognize the positive impact we have had for our members and our communities.

I look forward to 2026 not because I think it will all be good, but because I know that RMFU is positioned to be a positive influence in changes that are sure to come our way.