RMFU Remember Former President Charles Hanavan

The Rocky Mountain Farmers Union family is remembering Charles L. Hanavan, Jr., today. Charles passed away Dec. 9, 2023, at the age of 97. He was born June 18, 1926. The funeral arrangements by the Brown Funeral Home in Cheyenne Wells set the service for Tuesday, December 19 at 11:00 a.m. at Wells Faith Church in Cheyenne Wells. Charles L. Hanavan, Jr. was a life-long trail blazer and champion of the family farm and rural economic development. He began farming at the early age of 22 with his wife and partner, Patsy, near Cheyenne Wells, Colorado. Despite his young age and tough economic times, he was appointed by President John F. Kennedy to the Colorado ASCS (now Farm Service Agency) State Committee which administered federal farm programs. Hanavan was elected to the board and as Vice President of the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union (RMFU), a general farm organization. He subsequently was elected president of the farm organization from 1968-70, during which his vision and mission of preserving family farms and rural economic development would continue. He also served on numerous local, state and national boards including the Cheyenne County Coop Association, Cheyenne Wells School District, Colorado Federal Land Bank Association of Colorado Springs, Colorado Association of Rural Rehabilitation Corporation and National Association of Rural Rehabilitation Committee. U.S Secretary Dan Glickman honored and awarded Charles and Patsy Hanavan with a “Certificate of Appreciation” for their “lifelong commitment to the legacy of American family farms” at the Millennium Celebration of the American Farms on May 9, 2000 in Kansas City, MO. Charles was admitted to the Colorado Ag Hall of Fame earlier in 2023.