Minnesota’s Winter Meeting Season Begins

The calendar does not say it is winter yet, but the winter meeting season begins this weekend with the Minnesota Farm Bureau and Minnesota Farmers Union annual conventions. There are some years when farmers are still trying to finish up harvest and tillage. It is nice that this year it is all pretty well finished. I asked why both these conventions were held so close to harvest. Both farm organizations have their national conventions shortly after the holidays so the state conventions must be held before that.

So, why are the national conventions held so soon after the holidays? Why not just push them back? Both the Farm Bureau and Farmers Union are grassroots organizations. Public policy positions start at the county level, some are adopted at the state conventions and the ones adopted there are sent on to the national conventions. The Farmers Union and Farm Bureau want their public policy all set to go when the U.S. Congress and state legislatures begin their new sessions. All members are welcome to attend the state conventions. For more information check out their websites.