Rob Larew elected NFU President
March 3, 2020
At the recent National Farmers Union (NFU) Convention in Savannah, Ga., delegates elected Rob Larew, previously NFU’s Senior Vice President for Public Policy and Communications, as the organization’s President. Roger Johnson, who served as President from 2009-2020, has retired. NFU Vice President Patty Edelburg, first elected in 2018, was re-elected by acclamation.
About 40 Minnesotans attended the convention, debating NFU policy positions in addition to electing the President and Vice President.
MFU had nine elected delegates at the NFU Convention: Sarah Hill of Waubun; Erik Hatlestad of New London; Harmon Wilts of Kerkhoven; Brent Imker of Lamberton; James Kanne of Franklin; Melissa Roach of Cook; Steven Koering of Fort Ripley; John Larsen of Mantorville; and Deborah Mills of Lake City.
Representing the MFU Executive Committee were MFU President Gary Wertish; Vice President Bryan Klabunde of Waubun; State Secretary Anne Schwagerl of Browns Valley; Carol Anderson of Foley; Linda Larson of Rosemount; Joshua VanDerPol of Kerkhoven; and Ted Winter of Fulda.
Representing MFU on the National Youth Advisory Council were Maria Fatz of Waubun, Nicholas Foss of St. Bonifacius and Josiah Zapf of Denver, Colo., formerly of St. Bonifacius.
Hannah Bernhardt and Jason Misik of Finlayson attended as Minnesota’s Farmers Union Enterprises Leadership Couple. Carissa Elmstrand of North Branch attended for the Beginning Farmer Institute, along with her husband Erik and son Oliver.
Others representing Minnesota at the NFU Convention were Jeanne Wertish of Renville; Steve Anderson of Foley; Chris Fullerton of St. Paul; Deanne Johnson of Fort Ripley; Jill Hawkinson of Cambridge; Marlys Jensen of Kensington; Bessie and Lori Klose of Atwater; Gene Paul of Delavan; Alan Perish of Browerville; Doug and Elly Peterson of Madison; Lisa Severson of Eau Claire, Wis. and originally of Kandiyohi County; Dennis Sjodin of Cambridge; Mary Sullivan of Franklin; Brian Rohrenbach of Rosemount; and Cindy VanDerPol of Kerkhoven.
MFU staff in attendance were Legislative and Operations Coordinator Molly Jansen; Public Relations & Communications Director Brita Moore; Membership Coordinator Diana Rico; and Education Director Glen Schmidt.
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Minnesota Farmers Union—Standing for Agriculture, Working for Farmers (www.mfu.org)