NFU Blog

The 2008 NFU Policy Committee, consisting of members from across the country, met in Washington, D.C., Jan 7-9 to consider changes and amendments to NFU’s policy. The committee will reconvene at convention March 2-4 to make final 2008 policy decisions. Their recommendations will be voted on by delegates to the convention before being adopted.

Susan Frazier, committee chairwoman, and her husband Richard, both grew up in farming and ranching families. They currently live in the Sandhills area of Nebraska, where they have owned a farm for more than 20 years. The Fraziers grow irrigated white corn and soybeans, and had a small cow-calf herd until a few years ago. The couple have two children. Susan has been an activist for family farm agriculture for many years and is honored to be this year’s Policy Committee chairwoman.

Eunice Biel lives on a dairy farm outside Harmony, Minn., where the family raises dairy cows, all replacement cows and feed. The Biels have two children, one of which continues to work on the family farm along with his five children. Eunice works as a graphic design artist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. She is also on the Executive Board for Minnesota Farmers Union, is the Fillmore County chairman, has been on the state Policy Committee for several years and is a representative for MFU on the Minnesota Department of Agriculture advisory committee.

Jim Campbell lives on a farm in Haworth, Okla., with his wife Kathy, a school teacher, and their two children. His family farm raises livestock, and Jim is a stocker operator, an insurance agent for American Farmers & Ranchers Mutual Insurance Agency and is on the Board of Directors for Oklahoma Farmers Union.

Linda Ceylor lives in Catawba, Wis., with her husband Jerry and two children. The Ceylors operate the Hillside Dairy Farm, milking cows and raising heifers for replacements. Their farmland was certified organic in 2007; the cattle are currently in transition and should be certified in May 2008. The Ceylors have farmed since 1990, moving their farm from Washington state to Wisconsin in 1997.

Kristine Hondo lives in Burley, Idaho, with her husband Dan. The Hondos, along with their two sons, daughter-in-law and Dan’s mother, farm land located on the Snake River in south-central Idaho, where they grow sugar beets, dry edible beans, wheat, barley and hay. The Snake River provides the irrigation necessary to keep their farm running. The Hondos are in the center of the Idaho Russet potato region, and they rent out some of their land for the production of potatoes.

Kimon Kotos lives in North Muskegon, Mich., with his wife, Terrie. The Kotos have been active in the development and promotion of the Sweetwater Local Farmers Market in Muskegon, the only certified organic farmers’ market in West Michigan. Kimon is currently the producer and host of Where Do We Go From Here, a weekly TV program that addresses issues in Muskegon County including business development, sustainable agriculture and alternative energy production.

Curtis Martin and his wife, Cheryl, live in North Powder, Ore., where they run a cattle ranch and operate Cheryl’s family ranch. The Martins have four children and two grandchildren who all continue to be involved in ranching. Curtis serves as president of Power Valley Water Control District, is a director for Union Soil and Water Conservation District and is co-chair of Powder/Brownlee Ag Water Quality LAC.

Gretel Norgeot lives in Orleans, Mass., with her husband, Jeff, and three children. The Norgeots run Checkerberry Farm where they grow non-certified organic produce, have beehives and raise chickens for fresh eggs. Gretel is a vendor and manager at both the Orleans and Hyannis local farmers markets and is also a member of the Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen’s Association, the Cape Cod Beekeepers Association, the Master of Gardeners of Cape Cod, the committee for Buy Fresh/Buy Local Cape Cod as well as the Cape Cod Spinners Guild. Gretel was also previously profiled in the e-newsletter.

Karen Olson raises Scottish Highland beef cattle and potted lillies on a Territorial Alaska homestead/dairy farm she has been on since she was a child. Karen is also an editor for the Frontiersman weekly newspaper as well as for the Anchorage Times. Karen is involved in Alaska Natural Milk, a local dairy processor hoping to start production by spring 2008, and has two grown children and two grandchildren.

Curtis Tempel lives in the Southeast Colorado community of Wiley along with his wife, Cathy, and three children. The Temples farm irrigated alfalfa, wheat, corn and milo. Curtis is a fifth generation farmer and attended West Texas A&M in Canyon, Texas, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science.

Roger Wise is a lifetime Ohio Farmers Union member and farms grain crops, corn, soybeans and wheat with his wife, Sandra. The Wise farm also has on-farm grain storage. Roger has been a township trustee since 1992, and the Wises have two grown daughters, both of whom are lifetime members of OFU. Roger was elected OFU President during their annual convention Jan. 31 - Feb. 2 in Dublin, Ohio.

Roger Zetocha lives near Stirum, N.D., with fiancée, Joyce. Roger runs a small cow-calf operation and grows corn, soybeans, spring and winter wheat and alfalfa. He is also very involved in no-till and minimum-till farming. Roger is also a civil engineer for the North Dakota Air National Guard. Roger has four children, six grandchildren and is expecting another grandchild this summer.

Photo (left to right): Linda Ceylor, Curt Martin, Kristine Hondo, Roger Wise, Gretel Norgeot, Kimon Kotos, Susan Frazier, Karen Olson, Eunice Biel, Jim Campbell, Roger Zetocha. Curtis Temple (not pictured).