Times are Tough And Family Farmers & Ranchers Are Speaking Out During 110th South Dakota Farmers Union Convention

By Lura Roti

South Dakotans are known for being polite and neighborly. But as family farmers and ranchers face Trade War-induced low commodity prices and continue to wait for an updated Farm Bill, National Farmers Union President, Rob Larew urged agriculture producers to lean into another trait strength … stubbornness.

"We can be polite, but we cannot be polite at the expense of things we need as family farmers and ranchers," Larew said as he addressed South Dakota Farmers Union members during the 110^th State Convention held Dec. 10 and 11 in Huron. "The idea that somehow these rural communities are just going to survive on their own and we are just going to let rural health care facilities go away and we are not going to make sure that family farmers and ranchers have a fair shot from one year to the next in a marketplace that is not functioning - in a beef market that lacks transparency - and while we can say, "thank you," and show gratitude for the $12 billion, we need to lean into the stubbornness and say, "this is what my community needs. We are not going to give in and watch rural communities lose health care clinics or young farm and ranch families.'"

Larew is among the National Farmers Union team in D.C. advocating for farm and ranch-friendly policy. Being a part of an organization who gives a strong voice to family farmers and ranchers is encouraging during the current situation, said fifth-generation Salem farmer, Jim Walhe.

"I appreciate National Farmers Union working to get a Farm Bill passed that will provide a safety net," said Wahle. "When times are tough, like they are right now, that's when I'm grateful for Farmers Union on the state and national level."

Amber Kolousek agreed.

"I appreciate how Farmers Union is grassroots and fights for solutions to the issues we face on our farms and ranches," explained Kolousek.

Kolousek and her husband, Scott, ranch near Wessington Springs. The couple has been active in Farmers Union for more than a decade. They invited their college-age daughter, Abby, and her boyfriend, Blake Miller, to attend State Convention with them this year.

"We wanted to show them what Farmers Union does and what we have been involved in," Kolousek said. "Knowledge is wealth."

Abby and Blake are among a growing number of college students getting involved in Farmers Union. They are members of the newly chartered Northern University Collegiate Farmers Union club.

Chaz Blotsky is also a Collegiate Farmers Union member of the Mitchell Technical College Club. The 110^th State Convention is the fifth State Convention the 21-year-old Hidden Timber rancher has attended. He said he took time away from college classes for Convention because he believes as a young producer, participating in Policy discussions is important.

"I feel it is our generation's responsibility right now, to step up, not later, but now," Blotsky said.

Blotsky was among 14 South Dakota family farmers and ranchers elected during State Convention to serve as a delegate to the National Farmers Union Convention. The other delegates are Michelle Olson, Aberdeen; Rachel Kippley, Aberdeen; Jason Latham, Buffalo; Kaeloni Latham, Buffalo; John Kippley, Aberdeen; Lance Perrion, Ipswich; Sarah Perrion, Ipswich; Rob Lee, De Smet; Darrin Olson, Aberdeen; Jim Wahle, Salem; Keeleigh Reis-Elwood, Reliance; Terry Sestak, Tabor and Amber Kolousek, Wessington Springs.

In addition to Policy, Blotsky also appreciated hearing from convention speakers, specifically Governor Larry Rhoden. "Governor Rhoden's speech was motivating," Blotsky said. "After hearing him speak, I stood up a little taller. It made me proud to be from South Dakota."

South Dakota State University student and Collegiate Farmers Union member, Brandon Toennies agreed. "It was nice to learn that the person who holds the state's highest office knows what farmers and ranchers like us are going through because he is an actual rancher. And he knows that when we hurt, the entire state hurts."

Like Blotsky, Toennies also enjoyed the State Policy Meeting. During convention, family farmers and ranchers discussed several topics and voted on four Special Orders.

Participating in Policy is something Senior Advisory Council member and Kimball cattle producer Cadence Konechne, 17, also enjoys. "Farmers Union is a place where even a high school student has a voice. Farm and ranch policy impacts me because it is important to my future," Konechne explained.

With graduation on the horizon, Konechne said that her involvement in Farmers Union youth programming inspired her future career goal. "After participating in the D.C. Fly-In and attending Legislative Day in Pierre, I became interested in ag policy development, and I think I want to get a law degree. I would have never been exposed to this field if it were not for Farmers Union."

Colome farmer, Joel Keierleber said seeing young producers enthusiastic about their future and engaged in Farmers Union was encouraging. "The young producers are the future. I noticed more attending this year's convention than ever before. This is a good sign for the future of Farmers Union."

Getting to connect with South Dakota family farmers and ranchers of all ages from across the state is among the benefits of attending South Dakota Farmers Union State Convention said the organizations' president and fourth generation Brown County farmer, Doug Sombke.

"Convention is a good time to talk about the challenges that we face, with the low prices and world markets, and about the things that are happening in D.C. and Pierre…the kitchen-table issues we are all talking about," Sombke said. "Convention is also a good place to learn about some future technologies, like AI. And what better time than the Christmas season to connect with farmers and ranchers from across South Dakota."

To learn more about convention speakers and policy, visit www.sdfu.org. And to hear comments from more Farmers Union members, follow South Dakota Farmers Union on Facebook and Instagram.