IARN — Each fall, Iowa Farmers Union members travel to Washington, D.C. to participate in grassroots lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill.
The Iowa Farmers Union is gearing up for next month’s National Farmers Union Fall Legislative Fly-In event. IFU leaders and members have the chance during this annual gathering to meet with members of the Iowa congressional delegation and their staff and talk about the challenges and opportunities facing family farms in Iowa. Deborah Bunka serves as membership coordinator for the Iowa Farmers Union.
“Legislatively, we do a lot of policy work,” said Bunka. “Our latest work was on the butcher bill. We want some infrastructure for our members to have more access to lockers, which is a dire situation in Iowa. Not only do we go and talk to legislators, more importantly, we get our members into talking to their legislators. Some are afraid or don’t think they have a story to tell, but every farmer has a story to tell.”
The Iowa Farmers Union provides two scholarships each year to allow first-time participants to attend the Fall Legislative Fly-In at no personal cost.
For more information on this year’s gathering, visit iowafarmersunion.org.
Story courtesy of the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network.
Pictured: Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley (left) looks on as Iowa Farmers Union president Aaron Lehman speaks in Washington, D.C. during the NFU Fall Legislative Fly-In. (Photo courtesy of Iowa Farmers Union)
