The Wisconsin Farmers Union Annual State Convention will take place December 8th to 10th. Farmers will gather in Wisconsin Dells at the Chula Vista Resort.
“Our annual convention remains the premier opportunity for farmers to unite, gain insights from agricultural peers and experts, and shape grassroots policies that champion a shared vision for the future of family farm agriculture,” said WFU President Darin Von Ruden.
This year’s keynote speaker will be Zephyr Teachout. She is a Professor of Law at Fordham Law School in New York. There, she instructs on corporations, election law, antitrust, and prosecuting white-collar crime. Her book Break ’em Up: Recovering Our Freedom from Big Ag, Big Tech, and Big Money (2020) argues that workers, farmers, and citizens need to reclaim power from corporate masters for democracy to function.
The convention weekend kicks off at noon on Friday, December 8th, with a pre-conference Groundswell event. The official convention kicks off at 9 am on Saturday with a presidential address. This will be followed by workshops on diversifying farm profits, dairy policy, infrastructure and rural revitalization, and the 2023 Farm Bill. The weekend will also feature the Torchbearer award ceremony for youth program graduates, and a celebration of rural champions. There will also be ample time for networking throughout the weekend.
The WFU Foundation Fundraiser dinner on Friday will raise proceeds for educational activities at Farmers Union summer camps. The dinner begins at 6:00 pm and admission is $20/person for adults or $10 for youth. Tickets are available at www.wisconsinfarmersunion.com/convention. WFU is soliciting raffle baskets, products, art, or other donations for live and silent auctions at the convention. If you are interested in donating, please contact Brad Henderson at 715-214-7244 or [email protected].
On the final day of the convention, members will elect two delegates to represent Wisconsin at the National Farmers Union Convention on March 10-12, 2024, in Scottsdale, AZ. They will also elect directors for the WFU Board from District 2 (Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, and St. Croix Counties), District 6 (Adams, Columbia, Green Lake, Juneau, Marathon, Marquette, Portage, Sauk, Waupaca, Waushara, and Wood Counties), and District 7 (Dane, Jefferson, Kenosha, Racine, and Walworth Counties).
The convention is open to the public, but only member delegates may vote on policy issues. Early bird rates end on November 17th. Visit www.wisconsinfarmersunion.com/convention for more details and to register. Organizations interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at the event can find a link on the page as well.
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