www.iowafarmersunion.org

Grassroots A Quarterly Newsletter from

the Iowa Farmers Union

The  Iowa  Farmers  Union  is  seeking  a  Membership  

CoordinatorIowa  Farmers  Union  is  seeking  a  self-­‐directed,  energe7c  organizer  wan7ng  to  change  the  debate  about  agriculture  in  The  Heartland.  Iowa  Farmers  Union  is  enjoying  a  resurgence  of  diverse,  energized  and  progressive  leadership  and  wants  to  maximize  this  opportunity  with  professional  staff.  Get  paid  to  make  a  difference!  

Read  more  on  page  5.    

Spring 2014

Look inside for: IFU legislative action, upcoming summer camps, and policy issues we care about!

IFU holds Farm & Food Lobby Day at the Iowa Capitol

Nearly two dozen members of the Iowa Farmers Union and its allies met with legislators at the Iowa State Capitol in February to discuss industrial hog operations, negligent drift, water quality, and local food systems.

“Our grassroots lobby days give our members the chance to have face-to-face conversations with policymakers, tell their personal stories, and advocate for the policies that will help Iowa’s family farmers succeed,” said Jana Linderman, President of the Iowa Farmers Union.

Farmers Union officers met with leaders in both chambers throughout the day, including Senator Pam Jochum, Senator Mike Gronstal, and Representative Mark Smith. All three were receptive to hearing about IFU legislative priorities, especially support for local food hubs around the state.

Outside the chambers, approximately 20 IFU members were able to meet with legislators to discuss priorities that were important to them. These members asked legislators to:• Improve accountability and evaluation of progress in

Iowa’s nutrient reduction strategy• Tax industrial hog confinements at the industrial rate• Build on current legislative efforts to support local

foods• Improve penalties and compensation for negligent

pesticide spray drift

“Creating effective policy starts with an open dialogue between policymakers, farmers, citizens and other stakeholders,” said Gabrielle Roesch-McNally, IFU Board Member and PhD student at Iowa State University. “To create the changes we need in Iowa, we must understand different perspectives on what sustainable farming might look like by fostering inclusive discussions with a broad base of partners.”

Left: Donna Winburn, Marvin Shirley, Senator Pam Jochum, IFU President Jana Linderman, Tony Thompson, IFU Vice President Thomas Burkhead

I O W A F A R M E R S U N I O N

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Since 1915, Iowa Farmers Union members have worked together to strengthen the independent family farm through legislation, education and cooperation

and to provide Iowans with safe food, a clean environment and healthy communities.

Board of DirectorsPresident Jana Linderman, Cedar Rapids

Vice President Thomas Burkhead, Johnston

Jerry Peckumn, Jefferson; Chris Petersen, Clear Lake; John Gilbert, Iowa Falls; Anthony Thompson, Des

Moines; Jerry Rosman, Harlan; Marvin Shirley, Minburn; Ashley Peppler, Grinnell; Donna Winburn,

Grinnell; Suzan Erem, West Branch; Sally Gran, Nevada; Gabrielle Roesch-McNally, Ames.

Iowa Farmers Union521 E Locust Street, Suite 220Des Moines, IA 50309-1939

www.iowafarmersunion.org

For immediate assistance, contact Jana Lindermanat 319-651-2250

Grassroots is the official quarterly publication of the Iowa Farmers Union.

©2014 Iowa Farmers Union

Letter from the PresidentDear Members,Spring finally has come to Iowa after a long winter, and farmers are busy in the field preparing the soil and planting crops for the coming growing season.While new life appears in the countryside, IFU is undergoing its own season of renewal and growth. We have accomplished some important milestones over the past year, and we are poised to make even more progress in 2014:

• We have recruited a diverse and talented Board that has put their considerable abilities and energy into crafting a detailed strategic plan to guide our work and attract new voices and new energy to IFU;

• In 2013, IFU membership increased by over 15 percent, and we are working hard to continue that growth trend in 2014 and beyond;

• IFU has successfully secured a 5-year funding commitment from our national organization that will allow us to recruit new staff and expand our capacity to serve our members.

I am excited by the opportunities that I see for IFU over the coming year. As we move toward our 100 year celebration in 2015, I invite you to contact me and share your ideas for how we can continue to grow and strengthen our organization for the next 100 years.

Sincerely,Jana LindermanPresident of the Iowa Farmers Union

IFU is seeking aPart-Time Communications Coordinator

The IFU is looking for someone who is technology savvy and has a passion to represent the organization to the public.

Duties include:• Maintaining IFU’s online presence• Creating outreach materials• Coordinating media efforts

For more information, contact us at info@iowafarmersunion.org

3 www.iowafarmersunion.org

• William  Stowe,  Des  Moines

• Kevin  &  Danielle  Griggs,  Boone

• Grant  Schul<,  Iowa  City

• Stuart  &  Ranee  Greenfield,  Ellsworth

• Don  Laughlin,  Iowa  City

• Dick  Schwab,  Solon

• Susan  Ju<,  Solon

• David  Johnson  &  Jennie  Embree,  West  Branch

• Margaret  Bailey  &  Daniel  Miller,  West  Branch

• Gilbert  &  Ardyth  Gillespie,  Atlantic

• Dan  &  Cheryl  Lillis,  Williamsburg

• Phillip  &  Missy  Jensen,  Ida  Grove

• Jessica  &  Jon  Fogarty,  Iowa  City

Help  us  do  even  more!The  IFU  Advocacy  Fund  helps:★ Scholarships  for  first-­‐‑time  participants  in  the  annual  NFU  legislative  fly-­‐‑in  to  Washington,  DC

★An  effective  government  relations  team  in  Des  Moines  to  promote  IFU  legislative  policy

★ State  and  federal  policy  activities  for  our  members,  including  grassroots  lobbying  events,  meetings  with  elected  officials  and  policy  forums

Donate  online  today  at:

www.iowafarmersunion.org

Welcome  New  Members!

Meet  Julia  Slocum,  an  Iowa  Farmers  Union  Member  and  vegetable  farmer

Julia  Slocum  sees  farming  as  not  just  a  way  of  providing  food,  but  as  a  way  to  connect  to  the  land.  Slocum  manages  her  farm  called  Lacewing  Acres  in  Madrid,  IA  and  grows  about  30  different  crops  on  two  acres  of  land.  

She  notes  that  there  are  challenges  that  she  and  other  beginning  farmers  face.  Managing  the  business  end  of  her  farm,  growing  crops,  reaching  out  to  local  consumers,  and  keeping  up-­‐‑to-­‐‑date  on  agriculture  policy  is  a  lot  to  handle,  according  to  Slocum.  She  says  she  is  grateful  for  organizations,  such  as  the  IFU,  to  be  an  advocate  for  her  and  put  effort  in  areas  she  doesn’t  always  have  the  ability  to  do.  

“For  me,  at  this  point  in  the  midst  of  starting  a  business  by  myself,  it  just  takes  so  much  time  and  energy,  said  Slocum.  “To  know  that  a  group  is  out  there  that  knows  my  priorities  and  is  willing  to  advocate  for  me  is  a  good  feeling.”

Know  a  farmer  who  should  be  featured  in  our  newsle3er?  Write  to  us  at  info@iowafarmersunion.org

Julia Slocum at the Ames Farmers Market. Photo by Lindsay Tigue

Thank  you  to  the  following  donors  to  the  IFU  Advocacy  Fund!

• Susan  and  Richard  Heathcote

• Norm  and  Susan  West

• Jana  Linderman  and  Phillip  Burgart

I O W A F A R M E R S U N I O N

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IFU  aBends  the  Iowa  Environmental  Lobby  DayFarmers  Union  members  joined  an  estimated  35  environmental  groups  in  a  second  trip  to  Des  Moines  this  session  to  support  beTer  protection  of  Iowa'ʹs  land  and  waterways  in  March.  The  purpose  was  to  energize  lawmakers  to  provide  more  funding  to  preserve  Iowa'ʹs  soils  and  waterways.  Farmers  Union  members,  most  of  whom  are  family  farmers  growing  corn,  soybeans,  vegetables  and  livestock,  support  policies  that  protect  Iowa'ʹs  resources  from  fertilizer  pollution  and  soil  erosion.

"ʺConnecting  with  so  many  organizations  working  on  conservation  was  great,"ʺ  said  Tony  Thompson,  IFU  Board  Member  and  vegetable  farmer.  "ʺAs  we  talked,  I  showed  people  our  four  legislative  priorities  for  2014.  People  saw  IFU'ʹs  sincere  commitment  

Want  to  stay  in  the  loop?

Sign  up  on  the  homepage  at

www.iowafarmersunion.org

Sign  up  to  receive:

•Weekly  news  updates  from  the  National  and  the  Iowa  Farmers  Union

• Updates  and  action  alerts  during  the  legislative  session

• Reminders  of  Farmers  Union  events  in  your  area  and  around  the  state

Good  word  travels  fast,  with  your  help!  Please  pass  our  newsleTer  to  a  neighbor  or  leave  at  your  local  coffee  shop,  co-­‐‑op,  or  market!

Left: Tony Thompson, IFU Board Member; Thomas Burkhead, IFU Vice President; and Gregg Heide, former IFU Vice President. Photo by Iowa Environmental Council. 

to  conservation  efforts  and  really  understood  that  family  farmers  can  be  an  ally  in  the  fight  to  protect  clean  water  and  a  healthy  environment."ʺ

The  lobby  day  was  organized  by  the  Iowa  Environmental  Council,  a  partner  organization  with  the  Iowa  Farmers  Union.  The  IFU  was  proud  to  join  them  and  other  environmentally-­‐‑based  organizations  at  the  Iowa  Capitol  to  raise  the  issue  of  environmental  stewardship  in  Iowa.  

Photos from the Spring: IFU Attends the 2014 National Farmers Union Convention

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack spoke at the National Farmers Union Convention in Santa Fe, NM. While at the convention, he renewed his membership with the Iowa Farmers Union.

IFU member Aaron Lehman (left) with Dave Velde, NFU general legal counsel, at the National Farmers Union Convention. Lehman represented Iowa farmers and served on the national policy committee this year.

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Your child can learn important life skills while having fun this summer!Farmers Union Summer Camps teach young people cooperation and leadership skills while hiking, swimming, playing sports, and more.

Where: Kamp Kenwood near Chippewa Falls, WI.

When: Sessions run for 4 days, from June through August

Cost: $75 to $85 per session, union members and $100 to $110, non-members

Sign up: Go to iowafarmersunion.org for details and registration.

Iowa Farmers Union is pleased to partner with Wisconsin Farmers Union to offer these camps to Iowa members in 2014. IFU will provide free transport to each session with at least 5 young people from Iowa attending.

The  IFU  is  seeking  a  Membership  CoordinatorDue to the new energy in the IFU by new leadership allied with veteran leaders, the National Farmers Union voted to place more resources in Iowa to help us better serve family farmers. The primary responsibility of the membership coordinator will be to grow Iowa Farmers Union membership in order to increase the organization’s effectiveness with policymakers and its farmer members.Specific job duties include:• Helping members organize IFU events in their region• Coordinating incentives and activities for the IFU

grassroots member recruitment program• Working with the IFU president to build alliances with

partner organizations• Increasing knowledge and use of member benefits

among IFU members• Coordinating planning & logistics for the annual IFU

state convention• Working with the IFU communications coordinator to

raise the visibility of IFU• Reporting progress, challenges and opportunities to

the president and board of directors

The membership coordinator will report to the IFU President.

Skills/QualificationsApplicants should have:

• Familiarity with farmers and farming• A passion for rebuilding Iowa’s rural

communities and family farms• Previous professional experience with union

or community organizing or related experience

• Previous experience building successful grassroots campaigns

• Ability to identify needs, manage time and prioritize tasks effectively

• Comfort working with people (experience working with a variety of farmers a plus) in person, by phone and over the Internet

• A valid driver’s license and a personal vehicle

A successful organizer will help turn this job into a full-time executive staff position. Hours/PayThis position is a flexible 20 hours per week as needed for events and meetings. The salary is $22,000/year plus expenses, with the expectation that the position will grow as IFU grows. The successful applicant can choose to work out of the IFU state office in Des Moines or from another location.

To  ApplyPlease  submit  a  leHer  of  interest  and  resume  to  IFU  President  Jana  Linderman  at  jlinderman@iowafarmersunion.org.  Applica7ons  accepted  un7l  the  posi7on  is  filled.  Applicants  should  familiarize  themselves  with  the  Farmers  Union  before  applying.  IFU  is  an  Equal  Opportunity  Employer.  

The  Iowa  Farmers  Union  is  the  oldest  farm  organiza<on  in  the  state,  with  more  than  500  member  families  suppor<ng  rural  communi<es  and  family  farmers.

GRASSROOTS newsletter Spring 2014

521  E  Locust  Street,  Suite  220Des  Moines,  IA  50309-­‐1939

Iowa  Farmers  Union  members,  HasAngs  Mutual  has  you  covered!  

Now  with  your  IFU  membership,  you  are  eligible  to  receive  a  9%  special  group  

discount  on  your  comprehensive  farm  policy  from  HasIngs  Mutual!

To  find  an  independent  agent  in  your  area,  visit  www.hasIngsmutual.com,

or  call  1-­‐800-­‐442-­‐8277.

2014  is  the  International  Year  of  Family  Farming

The  UN  declared  that  2014  as  the  International  year  of  family  

farming.  Let’s  celebrate  our  family  farmers  in  Iowa!  Give  a  Union  

membership  to  a  farmer  or  friend  you  know  today!

www.iowafarmersunion.org