June Recap

Over the past month, we have seen significant changes in the Government Relations Department at RMFU. Dan Waldvogle, the Director of Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, who took the lead on federal government relations issues, announced his departure. While we look forward to working with Dan in his new capacity and as a member, we needed to search for a new Government Relations team member to join us as the Associate Director of Government Relations. The new Associate Director will work with Tyler Garrett, Director of Government Relations, as we continue to advocate for family farmers and ranchers in our three-state region. We look forward to introducing you to the new team member in next month’s newsletter.

Since the last of our legislative sessions ended in mid-May, the Government Relations team has been busy laying the groundwork for next year’s legislative session, building upon relationships with key stakeholders, and working on a transition for our team. Here are some of the highlights from over the last month and a half:

• Meeting with ranchers in southern New Mexico around issues such as grazing, water access, and the impact of oil and gas on their operations
• Meeting with Colorado’s state veterinarian and other key stakeholders on High Pathogen Avian Influenza in the dairy industry
• Meeting with stakeholders to discuss the proposed ban on slaughterhouses in Denver
• Judging events at the Colorado FFA State Convention
• Meeting with the Government Relations team in New Mexico to discuss Right to Repair legislation for the 2025 session
• Testifying before Wyoming’s Agriculture, State and Public Lands, and Water Resources Committee on Right to Repair legislation for the 2025 session
• Attending the bill signing in Colorado for SB24-055—Agricultural and Rural Behavioral Health Care, which we were the main advocates
• Meeting with Congressional staff in DC to discuss issues important for our members
• Participating in a raft trip put on by the Colorado Department of Agriculture and the National Park Service to discuss biocontrol measures in fighting invasive plant species, the importance of combating invasive fish populations, water issues, and other important topics
• Attending the Hearing on the Plains with Senator Bennet of Colorado and Senator Marshall of Kansas