President’s Report: October 2013
Hi, lots happening right now in KFU and around the country. Building: As you can see from the cover KFU has been approached about selling our building. I think this would be a good thing to do. Delegates, please represent your counties by participation in the special convention on October 29th. Lauren Clary: Lauren has moved on as of August 15th. She has taken a position with Dillons at the corporate office where she will use her social media skills to make them lots of money. Lauren was with KFU [...]
Jim Gerrish Grazing Workshop to focus on how Grazing Management Improves Productivity, Profitability and Personal Satisfaction
More than ever, you need to be in control of your operation. Cows are lousy business managers. Don’t leave the critical management decisions up to cows. They don’t care whether you make a dime or not. Your job is to create a ranch environment where the cow can be the best cow she can be. You need to manage the business side of the ranch and not try to do the cow’s job for her. If you don’t understand what that means, then you really need to attend this workshop. [...]
Farm Aid: family farmers, good food, a better America
Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, and Dave Matthews recently gathered with family farmers, agricultural advocates, music fans, food eaters, and other music artists to help grow the Good Food Movement at Farm Aid 2013. More than 25,000 fans attended the sold-out event on September 21, hosted at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Kansas Farmers Union played a role at Farm Aid this year, as President Donn Teske, Mercedes Taylor-Puckett, Linda Hessman, and Nick Levendofsky worked different booths representing KFU, National Farmers [...]
Special Convention Called
Notice of a call for a Special Convention of the Kansas Farmers Unionat 3:00 PM on Tuesday, October 29th, 2013 at the Best Western Holiday Manor, McPherson This special convention is called for the single purpose of possibly selling the Kansas Farmers Union state office building located at 901 W First St. McPherson Ks. Vote will be by the delegates of the counties. Pursuant to the Kansas Farmers Union’s bylaws, section 12, I, Donn Teske, president of the Kansas Farmers Union, upon the direction of a majority of the board [...]
NFU Flag and Monument Lighting Ceremony in Texas
Point, Texas, the original home of National Farmers Union, held a flag retirement and NFU Monument lighting ceremony on Saturday, August 31, 2013. The official ceremony coincided with the celebration of 111th year founding of the National Farmers Union. The program started with the ceremonious burning of the national and the thirty-three state flags. The event was conducted jointly by the Rabb Brothers Memorial American Legion Post #156, active duty servicemen, and the Venture Crew Troop 345. KFU President Donn Teske, NFU Honorary Historian Tom Giessel, and KFU staffer Nick [...]
Kansas Sends Six to Fall National Farmers Union Fly-In
A group of Kansas Farmers Union members and staff recently spent three days in the nation’s capital urging lawmakers to pass a comprehensive, five-year farm bill, support the Renewable Fuel Standard, and tell their personal stories to members of Congress. Along with nearly 300 fellow farmers, ranchers, and fishermen from across the U.S., KFU President Donn Teske, Wheaton; Luke Mahin, Courtland, Matt Ubel, Wheaton; Mercedes Taylor-Puckett, McLouth; Nick Levendofsky, Republic; Rick Lindblom, Salina; and Kate Giessel, formerly of Larned, participated in National Farmers Union’s Annual Legislative Fly-In to Washington, D.C., [...]