Click here to view the 2009 Convention Program including more information on award winners and speakers

IOWA FARMERS UNION 2009 STATE CONVENTION
The 2009 Iowa Farmers Union convention was held at Marshalltown Community College August 28-29.  Featured
speakers were National Farmers Union President, Roger Johnson, and Illinois Local Food, Farms, & Jobs task force co-
coordinator, Jim Braun.
Roger Johnson, recently elected National Farmers Union president, spoke about the struggles and opportunities cur-
rently present in agriculture.  Prior to being elected National Farmers Union President, Roger served as North Dakota
Agriculture Commissioner. Johnson is a third generation farmer from Turtle Lake, North Dakota.
Jim Braun, former Iowa hog producer and family farm advocate, spoke about the declining rural situation and how it
can be improved. “Farmers are not going to save rural America, urbanites are,” referring to the potential for providing
food directly to consumers rather than selling on the commodity market. Jim also stressed the link of the farmer’s share
of the food dollar and the rural decline saying, “As the farmers share of the food dollar has fallen from 50 cents per dol-
lar to under 20 cents, rural communities have gone right down with it.”
Additional speakers included John Whitaker, recently appointed Iowa FSA Director; Bob Krause, Candidate for the US
Senate, speakers on health care reform and more.
Two additional workshops were presented on moving toward sustainability on the farm by ISU small farm sustainabil-
ity specialist, Andy Larson, and using wind energy as part of the farm operation by Mark Runquist and Ed Woolsey.

Awards presented during the convention included:
Lifetime Achievement Award: Donna Winburn
Legislative awards: Senator Bill Heckroth, Representative Vicki Lensing
Young Farmer Award: Aaron Lehman
Media Award: Gene Lucht
Recognition of Contributions: Judie Hoffman, Leigh Rigby-Adcock
Education Awards: Dr. Jerry DeWitt, Dr. Lester Wilson