State and National Conventions

My name is Rhonda Bakken, and I am running for national director at-large. My husband Gary and I have been married for 41 years. We have 2 grown daughters and 3 grandchildren. Our farm is located west of Decorah, Iowa. When I first started dating Gary, he decided he was going to make the town girl into a farm girl. He and his family taught me how to be a farmer and love farming. Our family has been NFO members since 1989. Shortly after my second daughter was born, I was hired at the Decorah Collection Point for secretarial work. Soon after starting, the “secretary” job included tattooing pigs and loading semis. When Wally Johnson retired 29 years ago, I became the collection point manager. After 36 total years at the point, managing the collection point and serving farmers has become a passion for me. I enjoy getting my producers the best prices and the right markets for their cattle. I have been an Iowa national director for 15 years, serving on the NFO executive board for 13 years. I have served numerous years on the review board which is appointed by the national president Paul Olson. I would like to serve our members as an At-Large Director and see the exciting changes coming to NFO and our membership.

My name is Anthony (Tony) Bensman from Conover, Ohio. My wife Krista and I have been married for 30 years, and we have 3 daughters and 2 grandchildren. As a fourth-generation farmer, I have been involved in agriculture my entire life. I currently farm with my brother and son-in-law. We raise grain and manage a 1300-head cattle operation. I have participated in the National Farmers cattle marketing programs since 2005 and joined NFO in 2014. I am running for national director at-large with the aim of giving farmers a voice in this ever-changing environment. I have attended many state and national NFO conventions. I am also involved in many local organizations. I am the current chief of our local volunteer fire department, have served as an advisor to the local FFA program helping students broaden their agricultural experience, and have served on the local school board while my children were in school. I want National Farmers to remain a strong organization for many generations to come.

My name is Tom Crosby from Shell Lake, Wisconsin. My wife Sunshine and I have been married for 20 years, and we have 3 children, Isaac, Josie and Alycia. My father joined NFO in 1968 as one of the first members in Burnett County. My brother and I joined in 1995 and began shipping livestock through NFO. In 1999 we took over our family’s dairy operation from our parents. Our farm, River Valley Dairy, is a 100-head dairy operation. We farm 1,700 acres of corn, alfalfa, soybeans, rye and grass hay that is largely fed to our dairy herd and 200 head of steers. I have served as a National Director for 13 years and currently serve as Wisconsin State Vice President. I am currently Director of the Midwest Dairy Region, covering the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa and South Dakota.

I am Gregg Klinkner from Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. My wife Kathleen and I have been married for 37 years and have 2 sons. I am a Lifetime Member of NFO and have held offices at the county (Chairperson), district (Chairperson) and state levels (Vice-President) of NFO. I currently grow corn and soybeans, and finish both cattle and hogs. I began farming with my dad while attending school to become a diesel mechanic. I continued farming as I worked on farm and construction equipment for 36 years. I took over the farming operation completely in 1987. NFO has been an important part of my family’s marketing of grain and livestock for over 50 years, and I know the benefits of NFO for farming operations. My goals for NFO are to increase membership, to work to have all those using NFO programs join NFO, to market and educate people working in agricultural production on the benefits of NFO. Working together, we can help family farmers succeed.

My family has been an NFO member since 1968. I have served as Vernon County NFO President, Third District President, and NFO State Board for several years. I helped construct the NFO Collection Point in Cashton in 1991 and was Vernon County (Tri-County) Board President for 10 years. In 1988, with the help of NFO, we started CROPP/Organic Valley. I served on the Organic Valley Board for 9 years and Organic Prairie Board for 22 years. I have always enjoyed working with farmers to get the best price possible for their products. I feel it is very important for the next generation to take over the family farms. My wife Nancy and I have 2 sons, Brad (Nicole) and Russell (Courtney). We have 5 grandchildren. Currently I am farming with my son, Russell, and my nephew, Bryce. We have dairy cows, laying hens, hogs, sheep, and beef. We farm 950 acres. I have always appreciated what NFO has done for family farms.

My name is Paul Riniker, and I live in Greeley, Iowa. My wife Janet and I have 3 children and 3 grandchildren. We grow corn and hay on 600 acres, and feed 1,700 fed cattle and a 300-plus cow-calf herd. I have marketed my cattle through NFO since I became a member in 1982. I currently serve on the board of the Manchester (Iowa) Livestock Marketing Center. From 1984 to 2012, we also milked 50 dairy cows and shipped milk through NFO. Twenty-nine years on the NFO dairy truck! During those same 29 years, I served on the NFO Dairy Committee for the Midwest Region. I have held several National offices, serving as National Vice President from 2012 to 2020 and multiple years as Iowa’s National Director since 1996 and as an Executive Committee member since 2000. I have enjoyed my service on the Executive Board, facing the many challenges of our changing farm economy and keeping NFO financially sound. I am proud to represent NFO to farmers today. I would be honored to serve again as an At-Large Director.