NFU Blog

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Posts in ‘Uncategorized’

Members Corner: Jason Frerichs, South Dakota Farmers Union

Wednesday, August 6th, 2008

By Tyler Fischer, NFU DC Summer Intern

Between college graduation, farming, managing his own cow/calf herd, teaching at Lake Area Technical Institute and running for a House seat in the South Dakota legislature, fourth generation farmer and lifelong South Dakota Farmers Union member Jason Frerichs has been extremely busy.

Jason became active in Farmers Union following the 2002 state conference in Spearfish, S.D. “I found so many opportunities for young people such as myself to get involved in Farmers Union and agriculture, and really took advantage of available resources,” he said. Since that time Jason has attended national conventions in Denver and Billings and a fly-in to Washington D.C. in 2005. (more…)

Saying Goodbye: An Intern’s Final Thoughts

Friday, July 25th, 2008

From NFU Summer Intern Kale Van Bruggen

I find it difficult to believe that eight weeks have already come and gone in Washington, D.C. It seems that only earlier this week I was writing a blog about my visit to the Senate Gallery and how powerful of an experience it was, watching the second farm bill vote. I had very high expectations of this internship at that time, but those expectations have been met and surpassed.

I am incredibly thankful for the amazing opportunity I had here with NFU. I will never forget the experiences of meeting George McGovern, T. Boone Pickens and my North Dakota Senators and Congressman.  The governmental process studied in high school and college comes to life when you intern in D.C. I am always fascinated by the experience of watching the hopes and dreams of farmers in rural America evolve into county, state and national Farmers Union policy and then watch that policy be put into legislation, voted on by our Senators and Representatives. This summer was a very dynamic time to be in D.C., with the passing of the farm bill right as we started our internship and the “buzz” around town as our nation’s capital awaits a new administration. (more…)