Swenson's Final Address Calls for Taking Charge

March 5, 2002

Leland Swenson, in his final address as president of National Farmers Union (NFU) challenged farmers and ranchers to continue working together to take charge of their futures. NFU's president of 14 years also gave a nod to the farm organization's past accomplishments and highlighted its current strength.

Swenson gave his final report to members at Point, TX, the small community outside of Dallas where National Farmers Union began a century ago. "Your National Farmers Union is strong and positioned to provide aggressive and constructive leadership in the years to come," he said. Farmers Union members need to maintain the farm organization as the "social and progressive conscience of rural America," he added.

Swenson stated the 100-year-old family farmer and rancher organization made significant contributions to advances in landmark public and agricultural policy that include the adoption of the Sherman Antitrust Act, the Packer and Stockyards Act, and the inclusion of farmers in Social Security.

Today, Farmers Union members need to continue "working together to do that which as individuals you would find impossible," Swenson continued. He pointed to the important successes members have had in shaping the current farm bill. The U.S. Senate adopted a bill that includes numerous Farmers Union-supported policies, from country-of-origin labeling to higher commodity loan rates that will provide farmers with an effective safety net.