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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The state’s largest farm organization will kick off its 90th annual state convention in Bismarck on Friday, Dec. 9, at the Bismarck Event Center in a celebration of family farms and ranches. Participants will have the opportunity to debate issues facing families on the land and actively determine policy for the organization during the two-day event.
“We will be celebrating the grassroots leadership of Farmers Union members in defeating Measure 1 back in June,” said NDFU President Mark Watne, “and we’ll set the course for our organization over the next year during our policy discussion.”
Governor-elect Doug Burgum is expected to welcome convention goers to Bismarck on Friday morning, Dec. 9, when the convention convenes at 10 a.m. After the annual meeting of Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Company, speaker David Wasserman will take the floor at 1 p.m. Wasserman is the U.S. House editor and quantitative election analyst for the Cook Political Report. He’ll be sharing his insight on recent elections and the political landscape in which a new farm bill will be written.
Breakout sessions will be held at 4:15 p.m., featuring presentations on ag technology, ATV safety, grain and commodity marketing, and faith-based agriculture. Sen. John Hoeven will address attendees at 5:30 p.m., followed by live and silent auctions.
Rep. Kevin Cramer opens the second day of the convention at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10. Noted author and syndicated columnist Alan Guebert will take the stage at 10:45 a.m., followed by Sen. Heidi Heitkamp. Rob Larew, senior vice president of public policy and communications at National Farmers Union, will give a report at 1 p.m.
Dist. 35 Sen. Erin Hill-Oban will speak Saturday evening during the Torchbearer ceremony. Twenty-two youths from around the state will earn their Torchbearer Award, the highest honor a Farmers Union youth can achieve. To close out the evening, Deuces Wild! Dueling Pianos will perform with audience participation.
Activities for youth and daycare are provided throughout the convention. For more information or to register, go to ndfu.org or call 1-800-366-8331.