Pursuant to our by-laws provisions, you are hereby notified that the 102nd annual convention of the Farmers’ Educational and Cooperative Union of America, Rocky Mountain Division, will be held November 19 and 20, 2010 at the Doubletree Hotel, 1775 E. Cheyenne Mtn. Blvd., Colorado Springs, Colo. for the purpose of electing three members to the Board of Directors from districts I, III, and IV; to elect a President; and to transact the annual business of the organization.

Official registration will begin at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, November 18. The county officers will be in session beginning at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, November 18. The official convention opening session is at 8:00 a.m. Friday, November 19.

Individuals who will be running for the above positions must send a letter of intent to Ken Anderson, Secretary/RMFU, 7900 E. Union Blvd., Suite 200, Denver, CO 80237. The letter of intent must be received by the state office by September 20, 2010.

Ken Anderson
Secretary, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union

“With the passing of Dave Naibauer,” RMFU President Kent Peppler said, “family farming and ranching lost a lifetime friend.” David Naibauer died Monday, July 12, 2010, at Windsor Health Care Center in Windsor. He was born on April 8, 1917 in Greeley, Colorado. He spent his life farming in northeastern Colorado and was a Farmers Union member for more than sixty years.

Naibauer joined Farmers Union in 1948 in Briggsdale and rose quickly in prominence. He was selected by then-President Harvey Solberg to assist with organizational development across the state, and he played an important role in re-establishing the New Mexico Farmers Union in the early 1950s. In an interview two years ago, he fondly recalled convincing a Fort Collins farmer to trade a coon dog for an RMFU membership. The dog became a fixture in the Naibuaer household.

Naibauer served as president of the Weld County Farmers Union for 14 years, and as president of the Logan County Farmers Union after the family moved to Merino. Dave’s son Roland only recently retired from the presidency of Weld County Farmers Union. “Dave devoted his life to Farmers Union,” said Peppler, a Mead, Colo., farmer. “From calling square dances in Mead to lobbying Congress, he was there for us. We will miss him.”

The estate auction for Charles and Clella Petty is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on April 8 in Clovis, N.M. Charles Petty, lifetime member of RMFU and member of the board of directors for eighteen years, died January 11 in a work-related accident.

Petty was cutting metal on his Ranchvale, N.M. property when his cutting torch ignited a grass fire. According to local authorities, he was trying to put out the fire when he collapsed from smoke inhalation. He was pronounced dead at Plains Regional Medical Center.

Charles was born in Ranchvale, northwest of Clovis, on September 5, 1930. In 1950 he married Clella Hays, and together they farmed and ranched in the Ranchvale community all their lives.  His life companion Clella died in 2007.

Charles was a lifetime member of the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union. He played an active role in re-establishing Farmers Union in New Mexico and served on the RMFU board for 18 years, and took on the role of vice president after Todd Hagenbuch stepped down in mid-2009. Charles was a member of the First Baptist Church in Ranchvale where he served as a Deacon and Sunday School Director. He was also a legendary cook with closely guarded recipes.
Funeral services were held at the First Baptist Church. Farmers Union members from across the state, along with more than a hundred family and friends, filled the small church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Baptist Children’s Home, P. O. Box 629, Portales, New Mexico 88130.

The estate auction will be handled by Tate Auction Service.

Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Service Association (FUSA) is putting money back into local communities. FUSA is the network of agents who sell Farmers Union Insurance in Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming. The organization recently launched a Community Builder program to distribute a total of $12,000 to worthy causes in their communities. “Our goal is to build stronger communities so our region can pull through these tough times,” FUSA General Manager Gary Wilmoth said.

There is a contest element in the program, as the money is given to top-performing agents in each district. Every two months, the top agents in each district are allowed to select the charity or community program they would like to see receive up to $1,000 from the pool. “The amount available to the agent depends on their standing in the district. First place is worth $500, second is $300, and third is $200,” Wilmoth explained.

The first round ended in April. So far, five of the winning agencies have distributed funds:

• The Stafford Agency, Wray, Colo., directed $200 to the Wray Food Bank.

• The Miriam Pletan Agency, Casper, Wyo., had $200 given to The Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Casper.

• The Taylor Agency, Fort Morgan, Colo., presented the Life Fellowship Church with $500.

• The Steve Baer Agency, Wiggins, Colo., gave a check for $300 to American Legion and added their own matching donation of $300.

• The Jonathan Schrack Agency, Casper, Wyo., gave $500 to Child Evangelism Fellowship.

“Our agents are integral parts of their communities,” Wilmoth said, “and we have several agencies that span two and three generations. The Community Builder contest gives them a chance to compete and give back at the same time.”

Rocky Mountain Farmers Union (RMFU) members will be in Washington, D.C., September 8-10 to meet with federal legislators and urge them to support policies that sustain rural economies and ensure our nation’s security. The delegation includes current RMFU Fellows – a select team of individuals who enrolled in a year-long leadership class that will help them contribute to their communities. The group will be accompanied by RMFU President Kent Peppler, who is a Mead, Colo., farmer, and RMFU Education Director Jennifer Luitjens Bahr. “This is a great opportunity for these young community leaders to exercise their new skills,” Bahr said. “We are especially looking forward to meeting with the Department of Energy to stress the importance of rural communities to our national energy security.”

Development of renewable energy, fair international trade agreements, competitive markets, implementation of the 2008 Food, Conservation, and Energy Act, and sensible food policies will be on the agenda as farm and ranch families from the region and other state Farmers Unions visit senators, congressional representatives, and administration officials from the USDA, the DOE, and other agencies.

High on the priorities of the delegation is raising awareness of the need to extend the renewable energy Production Tax Credit (PTC), which expires in December. “The PTC helps level the energy playing field by matching the sorts of tax credits routinely offered to oil and coal producers,” RMFU President Kent Peppler said. “If Congress allows it to expire, it will do tremendous damage to the new energy economy in the Rockies and even to our nation’s energy independence.” Peppler said.

The delegation will also take the opportunity to counter myths propagated by corporate agri-business, such as the singling out of ethanol as a scapegoat for high food costs or the notion that the family farmer and rancher are getting rich on higher supermarket prices.

“Rural America is struggling, as all Americans are, to stay ahead of a failing economy. And we hold the key to food and fuel security in our country,” Peppler said. “Our food supply and the new energy economy depend on wise use of rural lands. Our members represent lifetimes of experience and innovation in stewardship, conservation, and production. We hope we can keep Washington listening to our members’ voices.”

Rocky Mountain Farmers Union (RMFU) announced today that it will coordinate a series of Farm Bill workshops in rural Colorado and Wyoming, beginning with a meeting in Greeley, Colo., on August 11.

RMFU President Kent Peppler, a Mead, Colo., farmer, said, “The so-called ‘Farm Bill’ is 700 pages of legislation on food, energy, conservation, and rural community programs. It took two years to reach compromises that protect our food and energy security without hurting the environment or breaking the budget. This bill impacts everyone, not just farming and ranching families. Nearly two-thirds of the funding goes to nutrition, conservation, and energy programs, but it also addresses specific interests of food, fuel and fiber producers and rural communities. It addresses many issues that are important in the Rocky Mountain region. We are pleased that we have been able to build a team of experts who can help rural families understand how the bill affects them.”

Rocky Mountain Farmers Union has put together a group of speakers who will be at workshops in five high plains communities during the week of Aug. 11 -14. The team includes experts from farm and commodity groups, conservation organizations, rural banking and crop insurance.

The workshops will include brief presentations and in-depth question-and-answer sessions. National Farmers Union VP of Government Relations Katy Zeigler will the keynote speaker at all five workshops. Located in Washington, D.C., Zeigler has been deeply involved in the shaping and analysis of farm bill legislation for many years.

Other speakers will be drawn from the many sponsoring organizations. The following organizations will participate: Colorado Sugar Beet Growers Association, Colorado and Wyoming Associations of Conservation Districts, Independent Bankers of Colorado, the Wyoming Bankers Association, Baca County Conservancy District and Southeast Colorado RC&D, Weld Food Bank, county Farmers Union officers, and local Farmers Union Insurance agents.

Schedule of Events:

• Monday, August 11
  Greeley, Colo: 7:15 p.m.
  – Bunkhouse at Island Grove Park
• Tuesday, August 12
  Torrington, Wyo: 7 p.m.
  – Brand Room at Goshen County Fairgrounds
• Wednesday, August 13
  Sterling, Colo: 1:00 p.m.
  – Sterling Room at Ramada Inn
  Wray, Colo: 7:15 p.m.
  – City Hall Roundhouse
• Thursday, August 14
  Lamar, Colo: 2:00 p.m.
  – Empire Room at Best Western Cow Palace Inn

Sponsors

• Rocky Mountain Farmers Union
• Independent Bankers of Colorado
• Wyoming Bankers Association, Inc.
• Colorado Sugar Beet Growers
• Colorado Association of Conservation Districts
• Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts
• Baca County Conservation District
• Southeast Colorado RC & D
• Weld Food Bank
• Colorado and Wyoming County Farmers Unions
• Colorado and Wyoming Farmers Union Insurance Agents

The neighborhood store takes on new meaning with the launch this week of the High Plains Food Co-op (HPFC). Using the web to connect markets on the Front Range with producers in eastern Colorado and western Kansas, HPFC gives urban consumers instant access to a variety of wholesome local food.

Rocky Mountain Farmers Union (RMFU) helped HPFC obtain federal money to turn their idea into a reality. Through the RMFU Cooperative Development Center (CDC), RMFU also provided consulting assistance during the development process. “Moving the co-op model to the Internet poses some special challenges,” CDC Director Ben Rainbolt said. “The people at High Plains have learned from other successful web-based cooperatives like OklahomaFood.coop and NebraskaFood.org. This kind of creative problem-solving gives consumers an alternative to food of unknown origin and gives producers a market they rely on. It’s a win/win situation for urban and rural interests.”

HPFC currently offers a wide variety of products, from pork and beef to fresh eggs, vegetables, and spices (including catnip). Members order products during the first two weeks of the month for delivery on the third Thursday their pick-up location, 7th and Kalamath near downtown Denver.

HPFC is accepting charter memberships until July 1 (or 150 enrollments). Consumer members pay $100 for a charter membership. Producer members pay the same membership fee, but they must also meet an approval process that guarantees products will be local and that principles of sustainable, environmentally sound agriculture are being followed.

“High Plains Food Co-op puts your farmers market a keyboard away,” Rainbolt said. To enroll, go to highplainsfood.org.

County officers from Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico Farmers Union chapters gather twice a year to develop plans for better representing their local constituents and using the resources available to build membership, cooperation, and advocacy skills.

The spring/summer retreat for 2008 will be at the Marriott Denver Airport at Gateway Park (16455 E. 40th Circle, Aurora, Colo.) and at May Farms (Byers, Colo.). In addition to discussing in issues that affect rural communities, farming and ranching, the county officers will spend Saturday afternoon in workshops and Sunday morning in leadership training, learning to use programs and tools that help them get local results, improving membership, outreach, and effectiveness.

On Saturday, April 19, officers will visit May Farms for a country breakfast fundraiser, followed by Kids’ Fun Day events from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Both events are open to the public.

>> Details: Kids Fun Day

On April 19th, you’ll want to be where the kids are — May Farms! May Farms is located just minutes east of Denver. There will be something for everyone, including fishing, cooperative games, renewable energy activities, planting a garden, hayrides, scavenger hunts, plus much more!

• Grades 1-6
• $5 per child
• Bring a sack lunch

We believe in providing quality programs about agriculture and the environment. Students experience the rich and diverse life of a Colorado farm by working, learning, smelling and feeling the experience. Programs are based on a “hands-on” approach that teaches in a meaningful and lasting way.

For more information, contact
Rocky Mountain Farmers Union
www.rmfu.org or 303-752-5800, OR
May Farms
www.mayfarms.com or 303-822-5800

>> Directions to May Farms
>> Printable Flyer

Sponsored by Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Educational & Charitable Foundation and May Family Foundation

Sterling, January 4, 2008 — Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture John R. Stulp joined Rocky Mountain Farmers Union (RMFU) in Sterling to recognize the 35 family farmers and ranchers who were pioneers of the Carbon Credit program in the Rocky Mountain region. Carbon credit programs allow producers to devote acreage to capturing carbon effectively and thus offset industrial impacts on the environment.

RMFU and the producers “should be commended,” Commissioner Stulp said. “This is an exciting time to be innovators responding to climate change.” Stulp went on to describe public utilities eager to embrace conservation and pollution offsets. “Agriculture is the original renewable industry,” he concluded. With the Carbon Credit program, “we get money back in rural pockets and clean up our air.”

RMFU President Kent Peppler presented symbolic checks for $57,000 to three leaders in northeast Colorado (Rick Jackson, Mike Stafford, and Ron Hart) who helped sign up 35 producers and 15,000 eligible acres in the program. “This is only the beginning,” Peppler said. The enrolled acreage can draw a quarter of a million dollars into northeast Colorado over a five-year time span. Meanwhile, RMFU continues to enroll acreage as eligibility is established statewide, in New Mexico, and in Wyoming. So far, more than 200,000 acres are enrolled in Colorado, and RMFU continues to seek innovative solutions that allow family farmers and ranchers to participate in agricultural approaches to reducing air pollution.

Sterling Farmers Union Insurance agent Rick Jackson, who hosted the gathering, was among those honored. Jackson not only recruited other participants, he helped them through the complex process of qualifying acres and he enrolled some of his own farmland. “This is not just a feel-good program,” he said after accepting his award. The program benefits producers, the land itself, and the environment. “We’ll remember this beginning fifty years from now,” he said.