We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
The Montana Farmers Union (MFU) will gather on October 14 and 15 in the state's capitol for its 107th Annual Convention. Held at the Delta Hotels Helena Colonial-Marriott, the two-day celebration will highlight the theme "Cultivating Community for More Than 100 Years."
Each fall, members from throughout the state attend this meeting to vote on by-laws and policy, as well as to enjoy educational workshops, see old friends, and meet new ones. Event organizers report that the Annual Convention will feature a great lineup of speakers and family-friendly entertainment. People are invited to bring the whole family and utilize the Youth Day Camp available at no extra cost throughout Convention. Registration is now open, and discounted hotel rates are good through October 1.
Speakers, workshops and breakout sessions will offer opportunities to learn from experts in rural entrepreneurship, marketing, soil health, climate resilience, and regenerative agricultural practices.
Members can also gain insights from panel discussions. One of these, New Markets for Montana Meats will convene on Friday from 2:10-3:00 p.m. The panelists will offer knowledge about breaking out of the commodity market and share their experiences and lessons learned with selling meat locally and regionally. Panelists-who vary in scale and methods-include Bill Jones, General Manager of Montana Premium Processing Co-op (Havre); Brett Debruycker and Jody Dahl, with Debruycker Charolais Meats (Dutton); Korey Fauque, from Happy Steer Ranch (Sunburst); and Jennie Becker, representing Stick Leg Ranch (Valier). The panel will be moderated by Courtney Brown Kibblewhite, Vice President for Northern Broadcasting and Leader of the Sales and Marketing Team at Northern Ag Network.
Later that evening at the Member Dinner, Retired Montana Political Reporter and Author, Mike Dennison will be the Keynote Speaker. Dennison will offer insight from his 23-year career as a newspaper reporter covering Montana politics and state government, focusing on campaigns, the Legislature, health care, energy, the environment, and many other important issues.
In addition to a General Session and four Breakout Sessions on Saturday, organization members will hear an address from MFU President, Walter Schweitzer at the Members' Banquet.
The Convention will close with a U.S Congressional Candidate Town Hall Meeting from 7:00-8:00 p.m. During this session, which will be live and open to the public, candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives will address issues before the election.
Registration is available online at the Montana Farmers Union website. There, interested individuals will also find the 2022 Convention Agenda and a complete listing of speakers, farm tours, and other related events.
Anyone seeking additional information is encouraged to call 406-452-6406 or to email Communications@montanafarmersunion.com.
