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RMFU appoints Swenson executive director

DENVER– Rocky Mountain Farmers Union (RMFU) has appointed Leland Swenson executive director of the family farm and ranch operation representing more than 26,000 members in Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico. Swenson, who served as president of National Farmers Union (NFU) for a 14 years assumes his duties July 5.

“Lee is a dynamic leader and public speaker with more than 25 years of successful management experience and an entire career working for Farmers Union organizations,” said RMFU President John Stencel. “We look forward to him applying his knowledge of the farm organization, grassroots activism and agriculture to the programs and policy priorities laid out by RMFU’s board and membership.”

Swenson was executive director for the Community Alliance with Family Farmers in California from June 2002 to March of this year, where he was spokesman for the interest of family farm agriculture, rural communities and consumers throughout California.

He served as president of NFU from 1988 until 2002. His duties included fiscal management, visionary leadership, personnel management, motivational speaking, and pursuit of NFU legislative objectives. During this time, he was appointed by President Bill Clinton to serve on the 21st Century Commission on Production Agriculture. He also served as a private sector advisor to the U.S. Delegation to the World Food Summit in Rome at the request of U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman. Prior to being elected NFU president, Swenson was president of South Dakota Farmers Union for seven years. He was raised on a farm in Minnesota and completed Farmers Union senior youth program.

“I am pleased to once again be working for the organization to which so much of my time, talent and energy has been devoted,” said Swenson. “I look forward to getting acquainted and, in some cases, reacquainted with the staff, board and members at Rocky Mountain Farmers Union.”

As executive director, Swenson will be in charge of administering the programs set by the board and ensuring smooth operating within the offices of RMFU and the Farmers Union Service Association.

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