President’s Podium: Ringing in a Busy New Year

Welcome to 2024! 

As we start the new year, I am hopeful that RMFU will continue to build on the many successes we had in 2023. Last year was a big year for us. We were instrumental in the passage of the nation’s first Ag Right to Repair legislation in Colorado, we chartered two new county chapters, launched our Second Century Fund endowment for the Foundation, assisted in the passage of the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund in New Mexico, and completed another strong year of developing new leaders in our organization and communities!

Even though 2024 is only a couple of days old, our schedule is already filling up! Legislative sessions are going to be starting soon, and our first legislative event will be our New Mexico drive-in on January 24^th, followed by the Colorado drive-in on February 5^th. We will not be doing a Wyoming drive-in as this is a budget year for the Wyoming legislature, but instead will do a legislator appreciation dinner at the end of the short session.

In addition to the legislative work on the calendar, we look forward to hosting our NFU Convention delegates for the annual preparation day on February 3^rd, and leaders from our county chapters for our Leadership Summit on February 4^th for a Leadership Summit, along with the first session of the new 2024 Fellows class. There is a reason we have come to call that weekend the “Big Weekend”! 

In March we will be taking our delegation to Scottsdale to carry the policy changes adopted at the 2023 RMFU convention forward for consideration at the 2024 NFU Convention, and we will be active in Washington D.C. as we work to ensure fairness for farmers and ranchers, and work toward passage of the next Food and Farm Bill before the current one expires (again).

We already have county chapters planning events in our local communities, and I encourage members to take a little time and attend.  I know how busy agriculture and life become, but I also know that life is better if you make the time to enjoy events and see friends and colleagues.

I look forward to seeing our returning and new leaders and helping to develop the skills and knowledge in our membership that lead RMFU to be a successful organization. Keep an eye on the event page at RMFU.org and maybe take a friend along! Help us build a society in which family farmers, ranchers, and our communities thrive!