It’s Election Day 2024. Wisconsin farm groups remind us that agriculture’s voice matters at the polls, especially in our Battleground State.
Wisconsin Farmers Union President Darin Von Ruden says farmers have one of the most important jobs out there — providing the food, fiber, and fuel to sustain everyday life.
“Can we make a difference in what happens in the future? Yes,” he says. “Your voice really does matter, whether it’s at the county level, the state level, or the national level, in making sure that your business can stay in business and prosper for generations to come.”
Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation has seen an increase in early voting, and is encouraged by the numbers so far. State officials say Wisconsin’s 2024 early voting numbers are up almost 50 percent from 2020. WFBF Executive Director of Governmental Relations Jason Mugnaini says the goal of the organization’s “I Farm I Vote” yard sign campaign was to encourage farmer participation at the polls.
“It’s very interesting to see the increase in early voting… that’s happening in rural areas,” he says. “It’s really encouraging that farm work didn’t get in the way of making sure that their voice counts.”
Mugnaini emphasizes that every vote counts. And here in Wisconsin, a battleground state, a vote can make a difference where margins are tight.
“This election in Wisconsin is a coin flip in a lot of ways,” he says. “The state Assembly and state Senate have some very tight races, the U.S. Senate campaign is very close, and equally as close is the fight for the United States presidency.”
Get acquainted with your ballot at My Vote Wisconsin — myvote.wi.gov — ahead of time. There, you can also see your polling place and the hours of that location. Mugnaini reminds us that after the electoral map change in Wisconsin, you may see an unfamiliar name on your ballot.
“And some of those races are really tight. It’s changing demographics in the state Legislature undoubtedly,” he says. “But some of those people that are running in those seats have been long supportive of agriculture, and we want to make sure that we’re turning the best possible Legislature to support farmers… back to Madison and back to Washington D.C.”
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