A cohort of 23 Iowa Farm Bureau leaders spent a few days away from their farms to visit Capitol Hill and their elected officials during the annual Ag Leaders policy trip Sept. 9 – 11 to discuss key farm issues, including ditching EPA’s proposed Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule, maintaining the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), supporting additional international trade opportunities, and biotechnology.
“The opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., with Farm Bureau and meet face-to-face with our lawmakers to discuss important farming issues was a rewarding experience,” said Ben Bader, a Black Hawk County member. “You really get to see how our policies start at the county level and how we work to implement them all the way to the national level.”
Iowa Farm Bureau members met with their elected officials in Washington to discuss pressing issues that impact their farms including support for important conservation programs, development of international trade opportunities, and extending important tax programs. Members used the opportunity with their lawmakers to share how key issues affect their farms and asked them to stand behind Iowa’s farm families.
Those participating in the trip included (front, from left) Mitch Kooiker of Hull, Brad Black of Rockwell City and Aaron Mefferd of Rolfe; and (back, from left) Matt Raasch of Odebolt, James Holz of Grand Junctio, and Brian Rosburg of Estherville.
“Our members brought very real concerns to their lawmakers in Washington, and they asked for commitment to support important issues that impact our farm families back home,” said Kevin Kuhle, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) national policy advisor. “Our local Farm Bureau members proved their knowledge of diverse policy issues and engaged Iowa’s Congressional delegation in conversations regarding the importance of stopping the proposed WOTUS rule, supporting international trade, and extending pro-agriculture tax policies.”
The Iowa delegation met with Congressmen Dave Loebsack, Tom Latham, Steve King, and a staffer from Bruce Braley’s office. Members also met with Senators Charles Grassley and Tom Harkin. In addition, participants on the trip took a Lockup tour with a crop production report and briefing from USDA Chief Economist Joseph Glauber.
The Ag Leaders Institute is a year-long program offered to select Farm Bureau members around the state. The program provides cutting-edge information about agricultural issues while developing individual leadership skills and working to create a network of leaders across Iowa. The Institute culminates with a trip to Washington, D.C., and graduation at the Iowa Farm Bureau annual meeting, Dec. 2 – 3 in Des Moines. The Institute has prepared 400 leaders since 1998.
