FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 3, 2007

Contact:  Sandy Courtnage

MFU to Host 92^nd Annual Meeting & Convention

GREAT FALLS, MT (Oct. 3, 2007) – The Montana Farmers Union’s 92^nd Annual Meeting & Convention is October 26-27, 2007, in Great Falls at the Heritage Inn.  The convention theme “Fueling Montana’s Future,” provides the framework for much of the convention program, where the membership will set the organization’s working agenda for another year.

Workshops

Biodiesel – the Next Step, as the title suggests, builds on several workshops already offered by MFU.

A Camelina Roundtable will feature Montana farmers who have been planting camelina for a number of years along with MSU Experiment Station research, who will all discuss their on-the-ground experiences with the oil seed.

Any agriculture operation that has several generations working together will enjoy and benefit from Intergenerational Farming & Ranching, which offers a lively and humorous way to improve communication and decision-making.

Governor Brian Schweitzer, MT Department of Agriculture Director Ron deYong, and National Farmers Union President (NFU) Tom Buis all will address the convention delegates.  In addition, MFU will honor Senator Max Baucus, Senator Jon Tester and Congressman Denny Rehberg, who recently received the NFU Golden Triangle Award.  Recipients were chosen for their leadership and support for a farm bill that addresses the challenges and opportunities in rural America, implementing mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL), the promotion and production of fuels from the farm, protecting the nation’s food supply, and support for emergency weather-related disaster assistance.

Again this year, day camp activities are planned for MFU youth, allowing the convention to be a family affair.  The two-day event concludes with a banquet that will honor the Deegan Ranch from Stanford with the MFU Centennial Farm & Ranch award.  The banquet will feature Montana grown and raised food and entertainment by Cold Hard Cash.

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Media note:  Please check in at our registration desk for a media packet and name badge.  Contact Sandy Courtnage at 406-452-6406 prior to convention to arrange interviews, or during convention call 406-499-0512.  Go to our web site at www.montanaframresunion.com for additional convention details.

Montana Farmers Union -- Convention Agenda

Fueling Montana’s Future

92nd Annual Meeting and Convention – October 26-27, 2007, Heritage Inn, Great Falls

Thursday, October 25, 2007

3:00 – 5:00 pm                     Registration

Friday, October 26, 2007

7:00 am                              Registration

7:30 – 8:45 am                     FU Industries Breakfast

8:45 am – 10:00                   Flag Ceremony – Welcome – MFU Business Meeting

8:45 am – 5:30 pm          Day Camp [for youth ages 5-12]

9:00 am – 10:00 am           Berg in the Morning, live broadcast

10:00 – 10:30 am                 BREAK – TRADE SHOW OPENS

10:30 – Noon                        Montana FU Insurance Meeting

10:30 – 11:30                       MT State Fund Ag Safety Workshop

  Les Graham

Noon – 1:30 pm                    FU Insurance Agents’ Luncheon, Tom Buis, President, National Farmers Union

1:30 – 3:00                            MFU General Session Reports

  Senators Baucus & Tester, Golden Triangle Award & video greeting

3:00 – 3:15                                            BREAK

3:15 – 4:30                            MFU General Session

                                      Congressman Rehberg, Golden Triangle Award & video greeting

4:30 –5:30                             Governor Brian Schweitzer, MT Agriculture Now & the Future

6:00 pm                                 Reception sponsored by MT Farmers Union Insurance

Saturday, October 27, 2007

7:30 – 8:30 am                     Leadership Breakfast, Shawn Fladager, Ag News Director, KMON

8:30 – 5:30 pm                     Day Camp

8:40 – 10:00 am                   General Session:  Election Opens

10:00 – 10:30                                       BREAK

10:30 am                               Election Closes

10:30 – noon                         General Session 

  Erik Somerfeld, MT Beef Council

                                                  Rachel Endecott, MSU Extension, BVD-PI

  Sam Kitzenberg, Dept. of Revenue Property Valuation Project

Noon – 1:30 pm                    Education Luncheon     

  Mildred Stoltz & youth service awards

  Ralph Parker Scholarship presentation to Montana State University

  Laura Johnston Monchuk, NFU Education Director

Concurrent Workshops (choose 2)

1:30 – 2:30                            First Session

2:30 – 3:30                            Second Session

Workshop Choices:                Biodiesel – the Next Step

                                                  Howard Haines, Dept. of Environmental Quality

Intergenerational Farming & Ranching

  Sandra Hare

Camelina Roundtable

  Kent McVey, Montana State University

  Leonard Stone, Geraldine

3:30 – 4:00                                            BREAK

4:00 – 5:00                     Farm Bill Update

Katy Ziegler, NFU Government Relations

6:00 pm                                 President’s Banquet

Centennial Farm Recognition – Deegan Ranch

Installation of Officers

                                                MFU President’s Address

                                                Ron deYong, Director, MT Dept. of Agriculture

                  Entertainment:  Cold Hard Cash