Kansas Farmers Union, the state’s oldest active general farm organization, will hold its annual convention at the Hotel at Old Town, Wichita, December 7-8, 2016.

This year’s theme is Helping Communities Help Themselves. In addition to addressing rural healthcare access and expanding direct marketing opportunities, conference sessions will focus on exploring past and present farm crises to seek proactive strategies to help rural communities thrive despite a tough ag economy.

Registration for convention is available online. Early bird registration discounts end on November 25.

Grassroots policy development will be Wednesday’s focus. Kansas Farmers Union has a rich history of working to protect and promote the interests of family farmers and ranchers by taking a leadership role in advocating for farming, ranching and agricultural interests across the state. Each year, members review past policy, propose and debate new issues, and adopt policy for the coming year.

Wednesday evening, Pete Lorenz, National Farmers senior grain marketing analyst, will share grain marketing opportunities and National Farmers Union Historian Tom Giessel, Larned, will delve into the history of Farmers Union.

Thursday kicks off with the Washington Breakfast featuring Zack Clark, NFU Government Relations Representative, for a report on the year’s developments with the national organization.

Sean Gatewood, Alliance for a Healthy Kansas, will discuss the status of Kansas healthcare access and Donna Pearson McClish will share the rapid growth of Wichita’s Common Ground Producers and Growers, Inc.

During lunch attendees will hear from Adrian Polansky, state executive director of USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Kansas, and Rod Larew, NFU Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Communications.

The afternoon sessions explore the ‘80s farm crisis and the current ag economy. Farm Aid’s recently released documentary, Homeplace Under Fire, will be shown followed by a farm crisis pro-active response panel discussion and strategy planning featuring Forrest Buhler, Mary Fund, Charlie Griffin, Linda Hessman, and Greg Stephens.

USDA GIPSA Administrator Larry Mitchell will offer the keynote, “Reflections of a Texas Plowboy in Washington, D.C. – AAM, NFU and USDA” during Thursday’s banquet. The evening concludes with the annual Kansas Farmers Union Foundation auction.

The convention schedule and online registration is available at kansasfarmersunion.org. The form below can also be mailed-in with a check. Group rate rooms at the Hotel at Old Town are available until December 1.

REGISTRATION
Online registration is available here.
Download Mail-in Registration Form here.

Please note the following before mailing the registration form: Registration and payment must be mailed by Friday, November 25 to receive the early bird rate. Please mail registration form and check to:

KFU Convention
P.O. Box 1064
McPherson KS 67460

LODGING
Hotel At Old Town
First & Mosley, 830 East First,
Wichita, KS 67202
To reserve, call 316.267.4800 and refer to GROUP CODE: KFU1216. A room block
has been reserved until December 1.
Rates are:

Queen Single Bed Rooms – $ 95.00
King Single Bed Rooms – $105.00
Queen/Queen Double Rooms – $115.00
King Jacuzzi Suites – $165.00

QUESTIONS
Please contact KFU Membership Specialist Mary Howell at 785.562.8726 or kfu.mary@gmail.com