President’s Podium: “Springing” into Action

Spring is a busy time on our farms and ranches, and also a busy time for our government relations and membership departments at RMFU.

We hosted our New Mexico Drive-in on January 24^th, bringing together our Government Relations staff, members from across New Mexico, and other stakeholders to talk about RMFU’s New Mexico state policy. We had members attend and testify in favor of a bill we are supporting regarding composting and heard updates on the state meat processing bill we hope to help get passed this year.

We also just completed our “Big Weekend” in Colorado. On Saturday, we welcomed our newest Fellows class and our NFU Convention delegates met to prepare to advocate for RMFU’s policy inclusion in NFU policy at the National Convention this March in Scottsdale, AZ. Sunday, at our Leadership Academy, our staff shared resources that are available to all our members and to our chapter leaders from RMFU, and through the RMFU Foundation including our Cooperative Development Center.  The programming included an overview of the legislative process and social media training, as well as leadership and community organizing tips from guest speaker Tom Mosgaller.

Monday, we held our annual Colorado Drive-in, where we heard from our Government Relations staff about the bills we are following in the Colorado capitol. We honored the legislators who helped rural Coloradoans with the nation’s first Right to Repair bill, and who help pass legislation supporting those affected deal with the wolf reintroduction. Members were able to have great one on one conversations with their representatives and a couple of members testified in support of bills making their way through the legislative process.

RMFU is working hard to strengthen members’ voices and help agricultural communities thrive.  Seeing engaged members actively seeking out and taking advantage of the opportunities to advocate for themselves and those in their communities reinforces why I am passionate about RMFU and the role and potential it has to make a difference!