Nearly 50 family farmers and ranchers from across South Dakota are in New Orleans, Louisiana for the 2026 National Farmers Union Convention held March 7-9.
Challenges facing family farmers and ranchers today call for action – not patience said National Farmers Union President, Rob Larew during his 2026 National Convention keynote address.
“The billionaires consolidating our food system are counting on us to be too busy, too tired and too divided to push back. The politicians who won’t pass meaningful farm policy are counting on the issue being too complicated for anyone to pay attention,” Larew said. “They have underestimated us before. They are making the same mistake now. … This is our moment. Not to survive it – but to shape it.” (View this article at www.sdfu.org to access a link to watch Larew’s Keynote Address.)
Action through policy
During the National Farmers Union (NFU) Convention held in New Orleans, Louisiana, March 7-9 South Dakota family farmers and ranchers joined the more than 190 farmer-rancher-delegates from across the U.S. to pass policy focused on keeping farmers and ranchers on the land, creating competitive markets and developing a safety net for modern agriculture (view this article online at www.sdfu.org to read policy.)
“We are in a time when young producers do not know if there is a future in farming,” said Doug Sombke, President of South Dakota Farmers Union and a fourth-generation Brown County farmer.
Sombke reiterated a fact that Larew pointed out during his keynote – farm and ranch bankruptcies were up 46 percent in 2025. And things do not look to be improving in 2026. Sombke explained that in addition to low grain markets made worse by Trade War tariffs, the recent war in Iran has had a negative impact on agriculture inputs – drastically increasing the cost of the fertilizer and fuel farmers need for the upcoming growing season.
These financial challenges are tough on seasoned farmers and ranchers who carry a low debt load. But for farmers and ranchers just getting started, they can be devastating, explained Salem farmer, Jim Wahle, 67.
“Because of the tariff’s impact on markets, I was already not planning to make money this growing season. I was trying to make a marketing plan so that I could break even,” said Wahle, who served as a South Dakota Farmers Union delegate to the NFU convention. “Now with this war and the price of fertilizer and fuel, I am nervous for the young farmers who have much more debt.”
Since the war in Iran, Wahle said farmers have seen fertilizer prices increase by $200 or more per ton.
“We need to help our young producers now,” said Groton farmer and South Dakota delegate Chad Johnson. “My margins were tight already, and I have been at this for a long time. These young producers, their margins are razor sharp. This is the reason the policy we develop at convention is so important. It allows farmers to come together with a unified voice in the message we deliver to policymakers in D.C.”
Policy developed during the NFU Convention guides the organization’s lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill.
“As things evolve, our policy needs to change with it,” explained Clark farmer and delegate, Gail Temple. “What worked in the past, may not work in the future.”
Temple, Wahle, Johnson and Sombke were among the delegates elected by South Dakota Farmers Union members during the organization’s State Convention held December 2025. Other South Dakota delegates to NFU Convention were Chaz Blotsky, Hidden Timber; Michelle Olson, Aberdeen; Rachel Kippley, Aberdeen; Jason Latham, Buffalo; Kaeloni Latham, Buffalo; John Kippley, Aberdeen; Lance Perrion, Ipswich; Sarah Perrion, Ipswich; Rob Lee, De Smet; Darrin Olson, Aberdeen; Keeleigh Reis-Elwood, Reliance; Terry Sestak, Tabor and Amber Kolousek, Wessington Springs.
Supporting the next generation
Supporting the next generation of family farmers and ranchers was a focus that resonated beyond the Policy Meeting. It was the focus of speakers and panel discussions.
Young farmers and ranchers felt the support, said Sarah Perrion, 31, who farms near Ipswich with her husband, Lance and their three young daughters.
“Farmers Union is like a family – members really care – and not just members from our state. I was sitting in the hallway and Rob Larew stopped to ask how our kids are doing,” Sarah said. “He only met our daughters one time when he visited our farm to learn more about how packer consolidation was impacting us. How many other ag groups’ national president shows up at your farm to better understand how policy they are advocating for impacts you?”
Sarah and Lance have been actively involved in Farmers Union since 2022, when they participated in the NFU D.C. Fly-In. Following the Fly-In they were selected to participate in Farmers Union Enterprise Leadership, a year-long leadership and professional development program designed specifically for young farmers and ranchers.
“For us, Farmers Union is where we can make a difference for our family’s farm by solving real-world problems through policy,” said Sarah, who serves as Edmunds County Farmers Union Education Director.
Harding County rancher, Jason Latham agreed. Jason and his wife, Kaeloni participated in the same leadership program in 2023 and were elected to serve as delegates to the NFU Convention and Kaeloni was asked to participate in a convention panel focused on the future of family farms and ranches.
“Times like this are when policy matters most,” said Jason Latham, 37 and the President of Harding County Farmers Union. “When times are tough and we are worried about losing farms and ranches and consolidation among the packers and the seed and fertilizer companies – this is when we need policy developed by farmers and ranchers.”
Investing in leadership development for young producers is an important focus of NFU explained Aberdeen farmer and NFU Vice President, Jeff Kippley. “Developing new leaders to fill the roles of those who have sat in those seats for many years is important, because as we move forward, just like on family farms, to succeed in the future, we have to bring in the next generation to be involved.”
Seeing so many young producers engaged in policy during NFU Convention was a highlight for Wessington Springs crop and cattle producer, Scott Kolousek, 50. “The next generation is here – this crowd is a lot younger than in years past.”
Hidden Timber rancher, Chaz Blotsky, 21, was among the younger producers elected to serve as a South Dakota delegate.
“I am excited to serve as a delegate this year because I have watched policy for several years and I have learned a lot from other members, so I’m excited to put what I have learned into action,” said Blotsky, a fifth-generation cattle producer.
Blotsky will graduate from Mitchell Technical College this spring with degrees in agriculture business and animal science. Blotsky hopes to find an off-ranch agriculture career while continuing to build his cattle and meat goat herds.
Involved in Farmers Union youth leadership programming since elementary school, the 2026 NFU Convention is the third national convention Blotsky has attended because in 2023 he served on the National Youth Advisory Council and in 2024 he attended convention as a participant in the Farmers Union Enterprise Leadership program.
“As a young producer it is great to be a part of a like-minded community and hear what other states are concerned about and the policy that is important to producers in other areas of the U.S.,” Blotsky said. “And being a Farmers Union camper all those years really helped because I developed confidence and I knew how to participate in parliamentary procedure. I actually helped a delegate from another state draft their policy.”
Encouraging young members, like Blotsky, to get involved at the local, state and national level is something the board members and staff of South Dakota Farmers Union focus on, explained Karla Hofhenke, Executive Director of South Dakota Farmers Union.
“The future of family farms, ranches and rural communities depends on the next generation having leadership skills and support,” Hofhenke said. “And supporting our state’s family farmers, ranchers and their rural communities is the focus of South Dakota Farmers Union.”
In addition to elected delegates three South Dakota college students serving on the Farmers Union National Youth Advisory Council and six high school youth involved in South Dakota Farmers Union youth leadership programming also attended: Patrick Olson, Northern State University; Madisyn Raymond, South Dakota State University, Brandon Toennies, South Dakota State University, Coltyn Raymond, Ethan; Danielle Kruger, De Smet; Loreli Ruhnke, Pierre; Logan LaMont, Union Center and Cadence Konechne, Kimball.
To watch videos featuring South Dakota family farmers and ranchers who attended National Farmers Union Convention, view this article online at www.sdfu.org.
